NONHEREDITARY COLONIC ANGIODYSPLASIAS - HISTOMORPHOMETRIC APPROACH TOTHEIR PATHOGENESIS

The pathogenesis of colonic angiodysplasias, more accurately termed va scular ectasias (VE) has not been definitely established. The aim of t his study was to assess that the VE of noncirrhotic patients are not a ssociated with diffuse abnormalities of the colonic mucosal microvascu lature unlike the VE of cirrhotic patients. Three groups of nine conse cutive patients were studied: group I, control patients with an irrita ble bowel syndrome; group II, noncirrhotic patients with VE; and group III, alcoholic cirrhotics with VE. A histomorphometric analysis of no rmal-appearing colonic mucosa was achieved from biopsies taken at six predetermined sites. Noncirrhotics with VE had a significantly lower m ean number of mucosal capillaries and a significantly lower mean cross -sectional area of mucosal capillaries than alcoholic cirrhotics with VE. Alcoholic cirrhotics with VE had a significant increase of all the vascular parameters compared to the control group. There was no diffe rence between the control patients and the noncirrhotic patients with VE. These results suggest that the VE of noncirrhotic and cirrhotic pa tients are entities of distinct pathogenesis.