Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

摘要: This chapter concerns three diseases of the gut unknown aetiology— pernicious anaemia, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. In each there is mucosal inflammation which, by creating greater permeability to antigen present in lumen, will stimulate local systemic immune responses. It therefore not surprising that many immunological phenomena have been described. Much interest has centred around possibility these are caused responses directed towards ‘self-antigens’, mechanisms which might arise. These include itself may alter antigens or reveal those previously sequestered, possession common mucosa intestinal micro-organisms. also seems likely ability mount partly genetically controlled.