OBJECTIVE: To determine the state of local blood flow in ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Rectal blood flow was measured by means of laser Doppler flowmetry during endoscopy in 20 patients with active or inactive ulcerative colitis and in 20 healthy controls. RESULTS: A significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the values of rectal perfusion was observed in ulcerative colitis patients both in active phase and in clinical and endoscopic remission. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired local blood flow may have a pathogenetic role in ulcerative colitis. Remission of the disease is not accompanied by normalization of local microcirculation, which may predispose to relapses.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the state of local blood flow in ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Rectal blood flow was measured by means of laser Doppler flowmetry during endoscopy in 20 patients with active or inactive ulcerative colitis and in 20 healthy controls. RESULTS: A significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the values of rectal perfusion was observed in ulcerative colitispatients both in active phase and in clinical and endoscopic remission. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired local blood flow may have a pathogenetic role in ulcerative colitis. Remission of the disease is not accompanied by normalization of local microcirculation, which may predispose to relapses.