LEUKOTRIENE B-4 AND C-4 GENERATION BY SMALL-INTESTINAL MUCOSA IN CHILDREN WITH CELIAC-DISEASE

The capacity of the small intestinal mucosa to generate leukotriene B- 4 (LTB(4)) and C-4 (LTC(4)) in children with coeliac disease (CD) was investigated by measuring the production of LTB(4) and LTC(4) in intes tinal biopsy specimens after stimulation with 10 mu M calcium ionophor e A23187. In addition, we examined the relationship between the produc tion of LTB(4) and LTC(4) in the small intestinal mucosa and symptoms of diarrhoea. LTB(4) and LTC(4) production was significantly higher in biopsies from patients with active CD than from controls (p < 0.05 an d p < 0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in LTB( 4) and LTC(4) production between patients with inactive CD and control s. In both patients with active CD and controls, no difference in LTB( 4) and LTC(4) production was observed between the patients with and wi thout diarrhoea. These findings suggest that enhanced generation of LT B(4) and LTC(4) in the small intestinal mucosa may contribute to the p athophysiology of CD but would not be related to the development of di arrhoea.