Leukotriene B4 and C4 generation by small intestinal mucosa in children with coeliac disease.

The capacity of the small intestinal mucosa to generate leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and C4 (LTC4) in children with coeliac disease (CD) was investigated by measuring the production of LTB4 and LTC4 in intestinal biopsy specimens after stimulation with 10 microM calcium ionophore A23187. In addition, we examined the relationship between the production of LTB4 and LTC4 in the small intestinal mucosa and symptoms of diarrhoea. LTB4 and LTC4 production was significantly higher in biopsies from patients with active CD than from controls (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in LTB4 and LTC4 production between patients with inactive CD and controls. In both patients with active CD and controls, no difference in LTB4 and LTC4 production was observed between the patients with and without diarrhoea. These findings suggest that enhanced generation of LTB4 and LTC4 in the small intestinal mucosa may contribute to the pathophysiology of CD but would not be related to the development of diarrhoea.