COMPARISON OF RECTOSIGMOID MOTILITY IN NORMAL CHILDREN, CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT ABDOMINAL PAIN, AND CHILDREN WITH ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Abstract

Rectosigmoid motility was evaluated in 18 children with recurrent abdominal pain without evident organic etiology, in 10 children with ulcerative colitis, and in 18 normal children. A heightened response to prostigmine, with increased rectosigmoid motility, was demonstrated in the children with recurrent abdominal pain. The physiologic implications of this finding are discussed, and the relationship of this entity to the spastic colon variety of the adult irritable colon syndrome is noted. Reduced rectosigmoid activity was observed in the children with ulcerative colitis.