Background. Ethiopathogenesis of the idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease has not been yet fully explained. Several abnormalities of the humoral immunity supporting the concept of autoimmune character of the disease have been identified. The aim of our study was to characterise occurrence of the organ specific antibodies against the intestinal goblet cells and against acinar cells of the exocrine pancreatic tissue and to evaluate their significance for the diagnostics of the idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Methods and Results. 69 children were included in the study. The group consisted of 20 patients with idiopathic proctocolitis (11 boys and 9 girls, 6 to 18 years old, average age 15.5) and 14 patients with Crohns disease (9 boys and 5 girls, 5 to 18 years old, average age 14.7). Control group included 35 children (20 boys and 15 girls, average age 14.7). In patients of the idiopathic proctocolitis group, antibodies against the intestinal goblet cells were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence method in 55%. In patients with Crohns disease, antibodies against acinar cells of the exocrine pancreatic tissue were found in 64.2 %. Differences in manifestation of antibodies against acinar cells of the exocrine pancreatic tissue in Crohns disease were statistically significant (p=0.001). Statistically significant (p=0.01) was also the difference of levels of antibodies against the intestinal goblet cells in patients with idiopathic proctocolitis when compared to patients with Crohns disease. Statistically significant difference (p=0.01) was found in levels of antibodies against acinar cells of the exocrine pancreatic tissue in Crohns disease and antibodies against the intestinal goblet cells in patients with idiopathic proctocolitis. Conclusion. Testing on presence of specific antibodies against acinar cells of the exocrine pancreatic tissue and against intestinal goblet cells is a valuable tool for the diagnostics of the idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease in childhood and adolescence.

        Key words: idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease, idiopathic proctocolitis, Crohns disease, immunofluorescence, specific antibodies, acinar cells of the exocrine pancreatic tissue, intestinal goblet cells.