Simple gas chromatography analysis of faecal butyrate: Application to patients at risk of pouchitis

In spite of the fact that pouchitis is the most frequently occurring and tr oublesome complication found in patients treated by ileo-anal anastomosis f or ulcerative colitis, no biological marker currently exists to monitor the outcome of the disease. Since it has been noted faecal butyrate is reduced in patients with pouchitis, we developed a simple gas chromatography metho d to quantify butyrate in faecal water. This test is based on diethyl ether extraction with the use of methacrylic acid as an internal standard. We de monstrated that butyrate was effectively measured when this technique was a pplied to eleven patients with ileal-pouch anal anastomosis within the firs t year after the closure of their ileostomy. We also observed a noticeable reduction in the concentration of butyrate in patients who went on to devel op a pouchitis.