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Microscopic colitis: an underdiagnosed cause of chronic diarrhoea--the clue is in the biopsies.

Microscopic forms of colitis (collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis) are uncommon but important causes of chronic diarrhoea that are often overlooked. The clinical features of these disorders are similar, and they are more common in middle-aged females, although the female predominance is greater in collagenous colitis. Although their cause is unclear, both are associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases. Colonoscopy and barium enema are typically normal, so that the diagnosis depends on the demonstration of characteristic changes on histopathological examination of colorectal biopsies. These should be taken in all patients undergoing colonoscopy for the investigation of chronic diarrhoea. There are no large controlled trials of therapy available. Treatment is empirical, generally using the same agents as for inflammatory bowel -disease. Assessment of therapy is also difficult as spontaneous remissions occur often.

Adult↗

Collagenous colitis associated with lansoprazole.

BACKGROUND: Collagenous colitis is a diarrheal illness of unknown cause. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of collagenous colitis related to lansoprazole exposure. STUDY: Case report. RESULTS: A patient is described who developed clinical and pathologic findings of collagenous colitis during treatment with lansoprazole and omeprazole. Symptoms of diarrhea and histopathologic abnormalities resolved after drug withdrawal and recurred with re-exposure to lansoprazole. CONCLUSIONS: The observations are compatible with collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis associated with exposure to lansoprazole.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Microscopic colitis is not associated with cholecystectomy or appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic watery diarrhea of unknown origin. Some patients develop diarrhea after cholecystectomy, and some patients with microscopic colitis have evidence of bile acid malabsorption. However, the association between cholecystectomy and microscopic colitis has not been studied. A protective effect of appendectomy on the development of ulcerative colitis also has been reported, but its relationship with microscopic colitis has not been studied. The aim of this study was to assess cholecystectomy and appendectomy as potential risk factors for the development of microscopic colitis in a nested case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified all Olmsted County (Minnesota) residents with an initial diagnosis of microscopic colitis between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2001. Rates of antecedent cholecystectomy or appendectomy in patients with microscopic colitis were compared with age-, gender-, and calendar year-matched community controls through conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Microscopic colitis was identified in 130 cases. Cholecystectomy preceded the diagnosis of microscopic colitis in 12 cases (9%) compared with 17 (13%) in the control group (odds ratio [OR] 0.7; 95% CI 0.3-1.5). Appendectomy preceded the diagnosis of microscopic colitis in 39 subjects (30%) compared with 28 (22%) in the control group (OR 1.6; 95% CI 0.9-2.7). Similar results were obtained when the analysis was restricted to microscopic colitis subtype (lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis). CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based nested case-control study, no significant association was seen between cholecystectomy or appendectomy and the development of microscopic colitis or its subtypes.

Adult↗

Usefulness of colonoscopy with biopsy in the evaluation of patients with chronic diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: Patients referred for chronic diarrhea frequently undergo endoscopic evaluation. There are limited data on the role for colonoscopy with biopsy and ileoscopy for patients with chronic diarrhea. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 228 patients with chronic diarrhea evaluated by colonoscopy between November 1995 and March 1998. Chronic diarrhea was defined as loose, frequent bowel movements for a minimum of 4 wk. Patients were excluded if biopsies were not performed in normal colons, if they had undergone previous bowel surgery, a history of inflammatory bowel disease, HIV, or an inadequate colonoscopy. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight patients were included in the analysis, of whom 142 (85%) had ileoscopy. Colonoscopy and biopsy yielded a specific histological diagnosis in 52 (31%) patients. These included Crohn's disease (9), ulcerative colitis (7), lymphocytic colitis (10), collagenous colitis (3), ischemic colitis (3), infectious colitis (6), and miscellaneous diseases (14). Ileoscopy yielded significant findings in 3% of patients (four with Crohn's disease and one with infection). CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy and biopsy is useful in the investigation of patients with chronic diarrhea yielding a histological diagnosis in 31% of patients without a previous diagnosis. Ileoscopy complemented colonoscopy findings in a minority of patients with chronic diarrhea and was essential for a diagnosis in only two patients.

Adult↗

Chronic diarrhoea in non collagenous microscopic colitis: therapeutic effect of cholestyramine.

Chronic watery diarrhoea is the main symptom of the microscopic colitis syndrome, including collagenous colitis (CC), lymphocytic colitis (LC), and not otherwise specified (NOS) colitis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal effect of cholestyramine in non collagenous microscopic colitis. The records of 13 patients with LC and 7 patients with NOS, who had received cholestyramine as first line therapy and who responded to a questionnaire, were reviewed. On an intention to treat basis, a good clinical effect of cholestyramine was achieved in 75 % of the patients in both LC and NOS colitis. There was no therapeutic effect in 15 % of the patients, who all had LC. In general, the anti-diarrhoeal effect appeared within one week of treatment. Cholestyramine provides a rapid and adequate symptomatic relief of the diarrhoea in non collagenous microscopic colitis.

Adult↗

Mechanism of diarrhea in microscopic colitis.

AIM: To search the pathophysiological mechanism of diarrhea based on daily stool weights, fecal electrolytes, osmotic gap and pH. METHODS: Seventy-six patients were included: 51 with microscopic colitis (MC) (40 with lymphocytic colitis (LC); 11 with collagenous colitis (CC)); 7 with MC without diarrhea and 18 as a control group (CG). They collected stool for 3 d. Sodium and potassium concentration were determined by flame photometry and chloride concentration by titration method of Schales. Fecal osmotic gap was calculated from the difference of osmolarity of fecal fluid and double sum of sodium and potassium concentration. RESULTS: Fecal fluid sodium concentration was significantly increased in LC 58.11+/-5.38 mmol/L (P<0.01) and CC 54.14+/-8.42 mmol/L (P<0.05) than in CG 34.28+/-2.98 mmol/L. Potassium concentration in LC 74.65+/-5.29 mmol/L (P<0.01) and CC 75.53+/-8.78 mmol/L (P<0.05) was significantly less compared to CG 92.67+/-2.99 mmol/L. Chloride concentration in CC 36.07+/-7.29 mmol/L was significantly higher than in CG 24.11+/-2.05 mmol/L (P<0.05). Forty-four (86.7%) patients had a secretory diarrhea compared to fecal osmotic gap. Seven (13.3%) patients had osmotic diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Diarrhea in MC mostly belongs to the secretory type. The major pathophysiological mechanism in LC could be explained by a decrease of active sodium absorption. In CC, decreased Cl/HCO3 exchange rate and increased chloride secretion are coexistent pathways.

Case-Control Studies↗

Mastocytic enterocolitis: increased mucosal mast cells in chronic intractable diarrhea.

CONTEXT: In some adult patients with chronic intractable diarrhea, the diagnosis remains elusive even after detailed evaluations, and colonic or duodenal biopsy specimens may appear unremarkable on routine hematoxylin-eosin staining. OBJECTIVES: To assess the concentration of mast cells in colonic or duodenal biopsy specimens by immunohistochemical analysis for mast cell tryptase from patients with chronic intractable diarrhea and to evaluate their response to drugs affecting mast cell function. DESIGN: Mast cells per high-power field were assessed in biopsy specimens from 47 patients with chronic intractable diarrhea, from 50 control subjects, and from 63 patients with other specific diseases that cause chronic diarrhea (inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, collagenous colitis, and lymphocytic colitis). Patients with chronic intractable diarrhea who had more than 20 mast cells per high-power field were administered drugs affecting mast cell mediator function and release. RESULTS: The mean +/- SD concentration of mast cells in the 50 control subjects was 13.3 +/- 3.5 cells per high-power field; hence, patients with more than 20 mast cells per high-power field were considered to have increased mast cells. Thirty-three (70%) of 47 patients with chronic intractable diarrhea had increased mast cells, and symptoms were controlled by drug therapy in 22 (67%) of the 33 patients. No patient had systemic or cutaneous mastocytosis. No increase in mast cells was seen in patients with other common causes of chronic diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: In chronic intractable diarrhea, colonic or duodenal biopsy specimens may appear unremarkable on routine hematoxylin-eosin staining, but increased mast cells may be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry for mast cell tryptase, with the novel term mastocytic enterocolitis describing this condition. Similar increases in mast cells are not apparent in control populations or in patients with other specific diseases that cause chronic diarrhea. The cause of the increased mast cells remains to be elucidated.

Adult↗

[Tenascin: a simple tool in the diagnosis of collagenous colitis].

BACKGROUND: Collagenous colitis is characterised clinically by chronic, voluminous, watery diarrhoea, and histopathologically by a thickened subepithelial collagen layer and infiltration of the lamina propria with inflammatory cells. In practice, the exact measurement of this subepithelial collagen layer is complicated by its blunt limit, a nonorthogradely affected cell layer and often only focal findings. Immunohistochemically, the subepithelial collagen layer stains positively with the glycoprotein tenascin, a marker for extracellular matrix remodeling. AIM: To assess if immunohistochemical staining with tenascin could be used as a simple and practical tool in the diagnosis of collagenous colitis. METHODS: 86 of the routinely examined colon biopsy specimens with the following initial diagnosis: 33 collagenous colitis, 21 lymphocytic colitis, 15 inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), 8 unspecific inflammation and 9 without histopathological findings, were incubated with tenascin. They were then evaluated blindly by 5 different investigators (2 senior pathologists, 2 assistant doctors and 1 chief assistant of the laboratory experienced in immunohistochemistry). Each specimen was evaluated semiquantitatively from 0 (for no tenascin-positive subepithelial collagen layer) to 3 (wide, clearly tenascin-positive collagen layer). RESULTS: In specimens with the initial diagnosis "collagenous colitis" the semiquantitatively assessed subepithelial collagen layer was significantly wider than in specimens with other initial diagnosis. Experience and educational level of the investigators did not influence the results. CONCLUSIONS: Immunohistochemical incubation with tenascin is a simple, economical and rapid tool in the diagnosis of collagenous colitis. With the aid of tenascin staining collagenous colitis can be differentiated histopathologically with sufficient accuracy from other colitis.

Biomarkers↗

[Therapeutic principles for chronic inflammatory bowel disease].

Whereas the incidence of ulcerative colitis has remained stable at around 8-9/10(5), the incidence of Crohn's disease has increased from below 1 to more than 5/10(5) per year during the last three decades. The new disease entities, collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis, are now covered by the term, chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The general principles of treatment of these diseases are to induce remission of outbreaks and to prevent outbreaks during remission. Available pharmaceutical products are 5-aminosalicylic acid preparations, with different delivery profiles in the gastrointestinal tract, glucocorticoids, and other immunosuppressants, especially azathioprine. New immunomodulating agents, with a specific effect on intracellular processes in the inflammatory cascade are now being developed, and infliximab, a TNF-alpha antibody, is now an accepted agent for use in severe, treatment-resistant cases of fistulising Crohn's disease. When medical treatment fails, surgical treatment is an option. In ulcerative colitis, colectomy is, in principle, curative, but it leaves the patient with either a permanent ileostomy or an ileal pouch, which serves as an artificial rectum after ileoanal anastomosis. This latter procedure has the obvious advantage of giving the patient a normal bowel continuity, but complications in the form of intractable "pouchitis" have been experienced in a small number of patients, thus necessitating removal of the pouch. Patients with Crohn's disease, who do not respond to medical treatment or present signs of stenosis in either the small or the large bowel, must be given surgical treatment, although an operation is less curative than in ulcerative colitis. Surgical resections for Crohn's disease must therefore be more conservative, so as to preserve the bowel and only remove macroscopically affected tissue.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

[Microscopic colitis].

Microscopic colitis is an umbrella term for a newly described group of colitides, belonging to the inflammatory bowel diseases, which are only diagnosable by microscopic evaluation of a macroscopically normal colon mucosa. Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are the most common of these colitides. Microscopic colitis is characterised clinically by chronic non-bloody watery diarrhoea. Crampy abdominal pain, nocturnal diarrhoea, urgency, and initial weight loss are usual. Concomitant diseases of autoimmune origin and arthralgia are commonly seen. Treatment of microscopic colitis follows the guidelines for treatment of other inflammatory bowel diseases, but a substantial part of the patients with microscopic colitis enter spontaneous remission after some years. A minor part, however, have very troublesome symptoms and are almost refractory to treatment. Microscopic colitis has apparently no malignant potential.

Chronic Disease↗

Macrophage-associated chronic diarrhea of unknown origin. Preliminary observations.

The distribution of macrophages in the colonic mucosa was investigated in 13 patients with chronic diarrhea. Group I consisted of 5 patients; both colonoscopy and colonic biopsies were reported as normal. Group II included 5 patients with normal colonoscopy, but with collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis at histology. Group III consisted of 3 patients with mucosal inflammation at both colonoscopy and histology. Immunostain with CD68 (a macrophage marker) revealed, in all patients from Group I, a linear accumulation of CD68+ macrophages at the top of the lamina propria. In contrast, sections from patients in Groups II and III showed a random distribution of CD68+ macrophages. Since all three groups of patients here investigated had chronic diarrhea, it goes without saying that the linear recruitment of macrophages in Group I may not be the direct cause of chronic diarrhea, as no similar linear recruitment of macrophages was demonstrated in patients with collagenous colitis or with chronic inflammation. Although the cause(s) of chronic diarrhea in patients of Group I remain to be elucidated, it would appear that the recruitment of macrophages along the superficial aspect of the lamina propria mucosa (lpm) is a characteristic cellular response in patients with this subtype of chronic diarrhea.

Adult↗

Colonic lymphocyte and plasma cell populations in dogs with lymphocytic-plasmacytic colitis.

OBJECTIVES: To quantitate immunoglobulin-containing cells (IgA, IgG, and IgM) and CD3+ T cells in colonic biopsy specimens obtained from dogs with lymphocytic-plasmacytic colitis (LPC), and to compare lymphocyte and plasma cell populations in dogs with LPC with those in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 10 healthy dogs and 11 dogs with LPC. PROCEDURE: Colonic mucosal specimens obtained from healthy dogs and dogs with LPC were stained specifically for IgA-, IgG-, and IgM-containing cells and CD3+ T cells by use of immunoperoxidase techniques. Morphometric analyses were done to quantitate lymphocytes and plasma cells in standardized areas of colonic mucosa. Data analyses allowed determination of mean cell numbers in each dog group, and comparison of mean numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells between dog groups. RESULTS: CD3+ T cells predominated in healthy dogs, whereas CD3+ T cells and IgA-containing cells were most numerous in dogs with LPC. In both dog groups, the IgG- and IgM-containing cells were considerably less numerous than the other 2 cell types. Comparison of cell populations between dog groups indicated that IgA- and IgG-containing cells and CD3+ T cells were significantly more numerous in the colonic mucosa of dogs with LPC. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs with LPC have significantly increased numbers of IgA- and IgG-containing cells and CD3+ T cells. These lymphocyte and plasma cell distributions indicate similarities to and differences from such distributions in human beings with inflammatory bowel disease. Results provide a basis for future correlation between histologic stage of disease activity and immunologic findings in dogs with LPC.

Animals↗

Lymphocytic and Collagenous Colitis.

Patients with symptomatic collagenous-lymphocytic colitis should eliminate dietary secretagogues such as caffeine- or lactose-containing food from their diet. When possible, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be discontinued. If steatorrhea is documented, a low-fat diet may be helpful. In the presence of bile salt malabsorption, binding resins such as cholestyramine might be useful. Nonspecific diarrheal agents such as loperamide hydrochloride, diphenoxylate hydrochloride and atropine, deodorized tincture of opium, or codeine might prove effective in some patients. Antibacterial agents such as bismuth subsalicylate (8 chewable 262-mg tablets daily) have been effective in symptom control. Metronidazole and erythromycin achieve response rates of 60%. Sulfasalazine, at the usual dose of 2 to 4 g daily, used in collagenous-lymphocytic colitis, demonstrated cessation of diarrhea in 1 to 2 weeks for 50% of patients. Other 5-aminosalicylic (5-ASA) compounds are preferred for patients with a history of sulfa allergy, and those who experience adverse reactions to sulfasalazine. Adrenocorticoid medication is reserved for patients whose conventional treatment with sulfasalazine or 5-ASA has failed. Resolution of diarrhea has been documented in 80% to 90% of patients within 1 week of treatment, however, in most patients, long-term therapy is required. Surgical management is reserved for those patients with disease refractory to medical therapy. Colectomy with ileostomy resulted in clinical and histologic resolution in small case series. If there is no abatement of symptoms, rule out other etiologies of diarrhea such as thyroid dysfunction, celiac disease, or bacterial overgrowth.

Journal Article↗

Lymphocytic and collagenous colitis: the emerging entity of microscopic colitis. An update on pathophysiology, diagnosis and management.

Microscopic colitis (MC) encompasses the two morphologically distinct entities of collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC). MC was first described less than 30 years ago but is presently recognized as a relatively common cause of chronic diarrhea in the adult population. Remarkably, up to 10% of adults who have a colonoscopy for the investigation of chronic diarrhea, and have endoscopically normal appearing mucosa, may have MC. Patients with MC generally present with chronic diarrhea, which can be associated with cramping and bloating. Endoscopic and radiological examinations are usually normal. Histological assessment reveals inflammation consisting predominantly of lymphocytic infiltration, and a thickened subepithelial collagen band is diagnostic of CC. Both LC and CC can be associated with autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, diabetes, arthritis and thyroiditis, yet the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis remain unclear. Emerging studies suggest that a stepwise approach be taken in the medical management of MC. This approach includes antidiarrheal agents and stopping of any offending agents; budesonide or bismuth subsalicylate; and cholestyramine or 5-acetylsalicylic acid agents. In resistant cases, oral corticosteroids and other immune modulatory therapy have been used.

Algorithms↗

Microscopic colitis in routine colonoscopies.

Lymphocytic colitis (LC) and collagenous colitis (CC), both known as microscopic colitis (MC), are uncommon entities with increasing incidence as more clinicians take biopsies from macroscopically normal colons and as pathologists use more rigorous diagnostic criteria to be confident of the diagnosis. Information on the incidence of this type of colitis is limited and based on reported cases. The purpose of this work is to estimate the incidence of LC and CC in reviewed routine colonoscopies. We reviewed 2815 colonoscopies performed at a tertiary referral center with an open-access service using restricted histological criteria in order to establish the frequency rate of LC and CC in routine colonoscopic biopsy material. Cases suspicious for MC were stained with Masson's trichrome or Congo red stain and immunohistochemically for lymphocytes, where appropriate. Review of routine colonoscopic biopsies showed that MC is underreported in our colonoscopic material. Incidence rates of LC and CC (0.9 and 0.4, respectively) were based on morphological assessment of colonoscopic biopsies using stringent criteria together with clinical data and after differentiation with other lesions which can mimic MC. The 10.2% rate of this type of colitis in patients with chronic watery diarrhea indicates the necessity to consider these lesions in older individuals with diarrhea and normal endoscopical colonic mucosa.

Adult↗

[Microscopic colitis. A 20 cases series].

Microscopic colitis are defined as a chronic inflammation of a normal macroscopic colonic mucosa. We report 20 cases of microscopic colitis. Chronic diarrhea revealed the diagnosis in 95% of cases. Endoscopic examination was normal in 95% of patients. We diagnosed collagenous colitis in 65% of cases and lymphocytic colitis in 35% of cases. The treatment was based on sulphasalazine in 16 patients, on 5 aminosalicylic acid in 1 case, on gluten free diet in 2 cases and a symptomatic treatment was prescribed to one patient. A clinical remission was observed in 41.2% of patients taking sulphasalazine.

Adult↗

Atypical forms of microscopic colitis: morphological features and review of the literature.

Microscopic colitis is defined as a syndrome of chronic watery diarrhea with a chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate in the colonic mucosa but without significant abnormalities at colonoscopy. It encompasses at least two histopathologic entities (ie, collagenous and lymphocytic colitis). The recognition and characterization of microscopic colitis has markedly changed the approach to the evaluation and management of chronic diarrhea. The histologic features of collagenous and lymphocytic colitis are well known to most pathologists. By considering the clinical history and symptoms, the pathologist should be able to reach the correct diagnosis in most cases. However, the spectrum of morphologic changes associated with watery diarrhea syndrome appears to be broader than originally thought. Morphologic changes more often associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease or even chronic ischemic or infectious colitis have been noted in patients with clinically established microscopic colitis. The data presented in this article suggest that microscopic colitis is a heterogeneous entity, which includes both classic and "atypical" forms. Problems arise when cases do not fit the usual pattern or lack some of the findings that are expected. Pathologists should be aware of the presence of atypical forms of microscopic colitis.

Algorithms↗