KIMURAS-DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH ULCERATIVE-COLITIS - DETECTION OF IL-5 MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION OF PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS AND COLON LESION

Kimura's disease is considered to be a Th2 type allergic reaction base d on the presence of eosinophilia and IgE hyperimmunoglobulinemia. We report a 26-year-old Japanese male with this disorder associated with ulcerative colitis. IL-5 is a selective stimulator for the production of eosinophilia and is considered to play an important role in Kimura' s disease. IL-5 mRNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the c olon lesion were detected by the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chai n reaction method, indicating that IL-5 can also be of importance in u lcerative colitis.