Inner Ear Disorders In Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Another Extraintestinal Complication?

Background/Aims: data about allergic reactions in ulcerative colitis (UC) have conduced to conflicting conclusions without clarify their role in the chronic mucosal inflammation.The aim of this study was to assess in UC-patients the presence of allergic diseases and if they could be related with the chronic intestinal disease.Methods: 50 UC-patients were submitted to clinical-endoscopic and histological evaluations and the results were scored according to Rachmilewitz and Truelove & Richard's criteria, respectively.Allergic diseases were investigated in these patients and in 50 healthy control subjects of the Neapolitan area taking into account family and personal history, with a prick (SPT) and patch (PT) exposition to airborne, food and contact allergens, dosing total serum IgE, and studying circulating and mucosal eosinophil granulocytes.The family and personal history of allergy was obtained using a detailed physician-assisted questionary.We performed prick test using allergens more frequently observed positive in our area and patch tests according to the European standard series of 1994.IgE were evaluated by fluoroimmunoassay.Tissue eosinophil count was obtained using an ocular micrometer, taking into account the number of cells on the most involved high power field.Results: a higher prevalence of allergic symptoms was found in patients (60%) respect controls (20%) (p