IMMEDIATE HYPERSENSITIVITY IN THE ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND EFFECT OF ADRENOCORTICAL STEROIDS

Abstract

Immunological mechanism has been considered to be one of the most important factors in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. It is divided into cellular and humoral immuno-logical reactions. There have been few reports, that immediate hypersensitivity of humoral immunity might participate in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. In ulcerative colitis we examined several factors of immediate hypersensitivity. (Circulating eosinophils, Serum IgE, Plasma histamine, Plasma CAMP & cGMP, Tissue eosinophils, Mast cells, and IgE containing cells).
We observed increased plasma histamine levels, tissue eosinophilia, decreased number of mast cells, and increased number of IgE containing cells. These findings were considered to have a correlation with each other and with the histological grade. So we consider the immediate hypersensitivity is a very important pathogenetic factor in ulcerative colitis. About an effect of adrenocortical steroid on ulcerative colitis, we observed it might be an inhibitor of the immediate hypersensitivity, and confirmed its clinical and histological efficacy.