Granulocyte migration in ulcerative colitis

Although histologically relapses in ulcerative colitis are characterized by an intense granulocyte infiltrate, there is evidence both from in vitro function tests and skin window migration studies in vivo that there is defective granulocyte function in ulcerative colitis. We have recently developed a method for non invasively monitoring granulocyte migration to sites of inflammation using indium-111-labelled granulocytes, and have used this technique in fifteen patients with ulcerative colitis. In all fifteen cases there was rapid migration of indium-111-labelled granulocytes to inflamed bowel within 10 min of return of the labelled cells. This study provides no support for a significant granulocyte migration defect in ulcerative colitis.