| Popis: |
Cigarette smoking is an important factor in the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Studies have shown that patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) tend to be non-smokers, while patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) tend to contain more smokers than control groups [l]. Both peripheral and mucosal immunoglobulin secretion are altered in IBD, with the number and production capacity of the plasma cells responsible for IgG, IgM and, in particular, IgA production being altered [2]. Peripheral immunoglobulin production is also influenced by cigarette smoking, with smokers having a reduced serum level of IgA, G and M compared with non-smokers [3]. The aim of this study was to determine whether in vitro colonic mucosal immunoglobulin production is influenced by smoking habit in patients with IBD and in controls. |
