ABNORMAL PLASMA POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACID PATTERN IN NONACTIVE INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

An abnormal plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern (PUFA) (increase d n3 and decreased n6 PUFA) has been reported in active inflammatory b owel disease (IBD). The possibility of a primary defect in the PUFA me tabolism in IBD was hypothesised. The aim of this study was to assess plasma PUFA pattern in inactive inflammatory bowel disease and to asce rtain whether patients who had had a colectomy and who were suffering from ulcerative colitis have a similar PUFA pattern than those patient s with non-active ulcerative colitis and who had not had a colectomy. Plasma fatty acids were analysed by semi-capillary column gas-liquid c hromatography in three groups of patients with inactive IBD (24 patien ts with inactive ulcerative colitis who had not had a colectomy, 15 pa tients with ulcerative colitis who had had a colectomy, and 27 patient s with Crohn's disease). Plasma concentration and percentage of C22:6n 3 and unsaturation index were significantly higher in patients with in active ulcerative colitis without a colectomy and the Crohn's disease group (p<0.0001) than in controls. Plasma concentration and percentage of C22:6n3 and the unsaturation index remained significantly higher, in both the operated and non-operated ulcerative colitis patients when compared with controls (p<0.0001). These results suggest that in inac tive IBD, an increased PUFA biosynthesis might be the cause of the hig h values of n3 compounds. These findings although seen in active disea se, are more noticeable in remission because of the lack of artefactua l factors (malnutrition, steroids, inflammation). In addition, persist ence of high values in both groups of ulcerative colitis patients - th at is, those who had had a colectomy and those who had not suggests th e existence of a primary abnormality in the PUFA metabolism in IBD.