Rectal cell proliferation is more pronounced in patients with total UC compared with controls. It has been reported that proliferative activity of the rectum is lower that of the rest of the colon. This study was performed to assess the pattern of mucosal proliferation at different sites in the colon of patients with total UC in remission and to determine whether this pattern differs from normal subjects. Biopsies were taken from 18 UC (9M, 9F, MA:60 yrs) patients and 22 (11M, 11F, MA: 57 yrs) normal subjects. Cell proliferation was studied by PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) immunohistochemistry. PCNA immunoreactivity was estimated by the intensity of nuclear staining and the percentage of positively stained cells. We derived a score, an addition of the above parameters. The proliferative patterns were estimated in the upper and lower segment of the intestinal crypt.

Cell proliferation was more pronounced in all different sites of the colon in the UC patients compared with controls. Our results are in accordance with the evenly distributed UC associated cancer throughout the colon. Two subgroups of UC patients were identified, one with high and one with low PCNA score. Further investigation is required in order to assess, whether a high PCNA score is indicative of predysplasia.

Key words: Ulcerative colitis, PCNA

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Hellenic Archives of Pathology, 1994, 8(3): 140-146