Untersuchungen zur Frage der IgE-Reaktivität der Dickdarmschleimhaut.

The importance of the IgE mediated inflammatory process of the large bowel mucosa was investigated by examining rectal biopsies using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method in 172 patients to demonstrate IgE cells in the inflammatory infiltrate. IgE-positive cells could be demonstrated in small numbers in all specimens. The numeration of the plasma cells in the inflammatory infiltrate showed in most cases between 1 and 3% positive cells, only in four specimens between 5 and 6% and in two over 10%. The four groups of the specimen biopsied showed no difference in the frequency of IgE cells. The larger number of such cells in colitis ulcerosa should be viewed as the result of the more intense inflammatory process in the specimen. There was no difference either in the frequencies of mast cells in the mucosa. The findings of this investigation do not support a causative role of IgE mediated processes, in particular of the chronic inflammatory bowel disease.