ABSTRACT
Colonic motility and transit were studied in 10 patients with ulcerative colitis and in 9 healthy subjects, before and after eating a meal. In ulcerative colitis the pressure was decreased in all regions of the colon and propagating contractions were low in amplitude but were more frequent, compared to healthy subjects. In normal subjects, transit was quiescent during fasting; eating stimulated both antegrade and retrograde transit from the splenic flexure. However in ulcerative colitis, transit was variable both before and after meal: antegrade or antegrade and retrograde or remaining in the splenic flexure. In conclusion, these disturbances in motility and transit may contribute to the diarrhea in ulcerative colitis.
