Functional and Structural Studies of Small Bowel in Ankylostomiasis

Non-specific Haemorrhagic Proctocolitis-Riis et al. MEDICALJOURThe main reason for discrepancy between the two methods of evaluation thus seems to be a difference of threshold. SummarySixty-five episodes of complete clinical remission in 46 patients with a verified diagnosis of non-specific haemorrhagic proctocolitis were studied with respect to macroscopic and microscopical signs of mucosal inflammation.The microscopical evaluation was based on the cytological method described in a previous paper.Macroscopic assessment was made by sigmoidoscopy with the use of conventional criteria.In 31 episodes sigmoidoscopy revealed macroscopically abnormal mucosas; in 24 of these the cytological preparations also showed inflammatory changes, while the cytological pictures were normal in seven.In the remaining 34 episodes no mucosal changes were found at sigmoidoscopy; in 16 of these distinct inflammation was seen microscopically, while normal cytology was demonstrated in 18.In about two-thirds of the episodes of patients with remissions shorter than six months the cytological method showed inflammatory changes, whereas the corresponding proportion in remissions of more than six months' duration was only slightly over two-fifths.The ability of microscopical techniques-like the cytological method used in the present investigation-to demonstrate unequivocal signs of inflammation in proctocolitis patients who are in full clinical remission, and who may even show a normal sigmoidoscopical picture, can be utilized diagnostically when such patients are first seen in a symptom-free or symptom-poor phase.The fact also points to the latent chronicity of non- specific haemorrhagic proctocolitis and calls for circumspection with regard to the prognosis of the disease.

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