Anti-endothelial cell antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease

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Abstract
Antibodies to endothelial cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of vasculitic disorders. In view of recent evidence implicating intestinal vascular injury in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, we have sought anti-endothelial cell antibodies in affected patients, examined their relationship to vascular injury, and tested their ability to mediate endothelial cell cytotoxicityin vitro. Anti-endothelial cell antibody levels were elevated in ulcerative colitis (PPr=0.58,Pin vitro. These data indicate, for the first time, an association between anti-endothelial cell antibody levels and vascular injuryin vivo and suggest that they may be important in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis.