Abstract
Microscopic colitis is a relatively common cause of chronic diarrhea. The colonic mucosa appears normal or nearly normal at endoscopy, and the diagnosis is made when there is intraepithelial lymphocytosis and a mixed inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria in the appropriate clinical setting. The two subtypes of colitis, collagenous and lymphocytic colitis, are simi-lar clinically and histologically and are differentiated primarily by the presence or absence of a thickened subepithelial collagen band. The possibility of drug-induced microscopic colitis and/or concomitant celiac sprue must be considered when evaluating these patients. Although there have been few controlled treatment trials in microscopic colitis, a systematic approach to therapy often leads to satisfactory control of symptoms.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 283-288 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Gastroenterology and Hepatology |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - Apr 2009 |
Keywords
- Budesonide
- Collagenous colitis
- Lymphocytic colitis
- Microscopic colitis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology