SOLITARY RECTAL ULCER AND COMPLETE RECTAL PROLAPSE - ONE CONDITION OR2

We studied the physiological features of patients with complete rectal prolapse and different degrees of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome to d etermine whether these conditions are likely to form part of the same disorder. 52 solitary rectal ulcer patients (median age 31, 40 females ), and 15 complete rectal prolapse patients (median age 31, 12 females ) were studied. Solitary rectal ulcer patients were divided into 3 gro ups, based on the extent of accompanying rectal prolapse (no prolapse, internal prolapse, or external prolapse). Both solitary rectal ulcer patients without prolapse and with internal prolapse had significantly higher maximum anal resting (p < 0.01 for both groups) and squeeze pr essure (p < 0.05 for both groups) than complete rectal prolapse patien ts. In contrast, solitary rectal ulcer patients having external prolap se were similar to those with complete rectal prolapse. Solitary recta l ulcer patients without rectal prolapse had significantly decreased a nal and rectal electrosensitivity (p < 0.01 for both) when compared to healthy control subjects. Solitary rectal ulcer patients therefore ha ve a spectrum of clinical and physiological features - this condition may comprise a range of different disease entities. The findings also suggest a different underlying aetiopathophysiology of solitary rectal ulcer from that of complete rectal prolapse.