morphometric analysis of the rectal mucosa in untreated coeliac sprue

Rectal mucosal biopsies from 27 subjects with untreated coeliac sprue and 34 subjects with irritable bowel syndrome were studied. The comparison included intraepithelial lymphocytes [IEL], immunoglobin. [Ig] containing cells, mucosal mast cells and eosinophils. subjects with coeliac sprue showed significantly increased number of intraepithelial lymphocytes, while other cell counts were only slightly increased, It is concluded that proctitis in untreated coeliacs is minimal, the increased intraepithelial lymphocyte counts may provide a diagnostic implication if the rectal biopsies looked otherwise normal