FECAL PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR (PAF) - A MARKER OF INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION

PAF (platelet-activating factor) is a phospholipid compound with harmf ul inflammatory effects on the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Rece nt studies have reported the presence of PAF in the stools of patients with inflammatory gut diseases such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative co litis, pouchitis and bacterial diarrhoea. PAF might be implicated in t he occurrence and perpetuation of the digestive tract inflammatory sym ptoms observed in these diseases. The benefic use of PAF antagonists i n inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract deserves to be a ssessed.