| Abstract: | Background : The aim of this study was to evaluate the state of local microcirculation in ulcerative colitis. Methods : Rectal blood flow was measured in 26 subjects with ulcerative colitis and in 10 normal subjects by laser Doppler flowmetry before and after topical spray of epinephrine during colonoscopy. Of those subjects, mucosal capillaries were observed by transmission electron microscopy in eight subjects with ulcerative colitis and in four normal subjects. Results : The blood flow was significantly higher in subjects with active ulcerative colitis than in normal subjects or in subjects with inactive ulcerative colitis, with the difference being significantly different in subjects with ulcerative colitis and in normal subjects following topical epinephrine spray. The capillaries were almost devoid of erythrocytes in subjects with active ulcerative colitis and the frequency of capillaries with erythrocytes in subjects with active ulcerative colitis before and after epinephrine application did not differ. Conclusions : These results indicate that the mucosal microcirculation in subjects with active ulcerative colitis showed ischemia and functional disorder. Further, continuous measurement of blood flow in subjects with active ulcerative colitis may be a useful method for evaluating the changes in microcirculation. |
