ULCERATIVE-COLITIS PRECIPITATED BY A VEROCYTOTOXIN-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA-COLI INFECTION

The aetiology of ulcerative colitis remains unknown, despite extensive research into likely causes, such as infections, diet, environmental factors, immunological or genetic defects, psychomotor disorders, and abnormalities of mucin. We report here a case of ulcerative colitis in which the first episode of the disease was associated with serologic evidence of infection by verocytotoxin (VT)-producing 0157 Escherichia coli (VTEC), possibly the trigger factor of a previously silent ulcer ative colitis. Although histological reports of ulcerative colitis ass ociated with VTEC infection are sporadically reported, the trigger rol e of VTEC in precipitating, aggravating or prolonging this pathology s hould be more fully elucidated.