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Review
. 2014 Dec;2(6):457-62.
doi: 10.1177/2050640614548096.

Colonic motility in ulcerative colitis

Gabrio Bassotti  1 , Elisabetta Antonelli  2 , Vincenzo Villanacci  3 , Monia Baldoni  1 , Maria Pina Dore  4
Affiliations
Review

Colonic motility in ulcerative colitis

Gabrio Bassotti et al. United European Gastroenterol J. 2014 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory conditions affecting the gut may cause motility disturbances, and ulcerative colitis - one of the main disorders among the inflammatory bowel diseases - may display abnormal colonic motility.

Aim: To review the abnormalities of the large bowel in ulcerative colitis, by considering the motility, laboratory (in vitro) and pathological studies dealing with this topic.

Methods: A comprehensive online search of Medline and the Science Citation Index was carried out.

Results: Patients with ulcerative colitis frequently display colonic motor abnormalities, including lack of contractility, an increase of propulsive contractile waves, an excessive production of nitric oxide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide nerves, interleukin 1 beta, neurotensin, tachykinins levels and the weaker action of substance P, likely related to a neuromuscular dysfunction due to the inflammatory process.

Conclusions: A better understanding of the pathophysiological grounds of altered colonic motility in ulcerative colitis may lead to a more in-depth knowledge of the accompanying symptoms and to better and more targeted therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Colon; enteric nervous system; inflammation; manometry; motility; myenteric plexus; ulcerative colitis.

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