ROLE OF PROSTAGLANDINS IN ULCERATIVE-COLITIS - ENHANCED PRODUCTION DURING ACTIVE DISEASE AND INHIBITION BY SULFASALAZINE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 75  (4) , 638-640
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level in rectal mucosa excised from 17 patients suffering from ulcerative colitis was 2-fold higher than in rectal mucosa of 17 normal subjects: 2.0 .+-. 0.4 and 0.9 .+-. 0.2 ng/mg of wet tissue, respectively. Accumulation of PGE2 in 24 h cultures of rectal mucosa specimens obtained from patients with ulcerative colitis was 112% higher than that observed in cultures from control subjects. Addition of sulfasalazine, sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid to the culture medium of ulcerative colitis mucosa resulted in inhibition of PGE2 production by 34, 32 and 62%, respectively, compared to rectal specimens cultured in drug-free medium. PGE may mediate the inflammatory response in ulcerative colitis and that some of the therapeutic effect of sulfasalazine and its constituents are related to the inhibition of PGE synthesis.