Inflammation does not decrease intraluminal pH in chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Intestinal inflammation may influence intraluminal pH. Profiles of the gast rointestinal pH were evaluated in 15 patients with active Crohn's disease o f the ileocecal area. In addition, five patients with moderate (1) or sever e (4) ulcerative colitis were studied. Fifteen healthy subjects served as c ontrols. Intraluminal pH of the different parts of the gastrointestinal tra ct was measured by a free-floating pH-sensitive telemetering capsule. A met al sphere was attached to the capsule for exact localization by a metal det ector, Physiological patterns of pH were maintained throughout the gastroin testinal tract including the inflamed segments. Median pH in the terminal i leum of the patients with Crohn's disease was 7.5 vs 7.7 and in the rectum in ulcerative colitis 7.8 vs 7.2 in the controls. In conclusion, intralumin al pH is not decreased by inflammatory changes in Crohn's disease and ulcer ative colitis, allowing eudragit-coated pH-controlled-release formulations of mesalazine to dissolve in diseased areas also.