Collagenous colitis
| Collagenous colitis | |
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| File:Collagenous colitis - high mag.jpg
Micrograph of collagenous colitis. H&E stain.
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| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 446: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| DiseasesDB | 2955 |
| eMedicine | med/1351 |
| Patient UK | Collagenous colitis |
| MeSH | D046729 |
Collagenous colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon specifically with peak incidence in the 5th decade of life, affecting women more than men. Its clinical presentation involves watery diarrhea, usually in the absence of rectal bleeding. It is often classified under the umbrella entity microscopic colitis, along with a related condition, lymphocytic colitis.
Signs and symptoms
Microscopic colitis causes watery intermittent diarrhea with greater than 10 bowel movements per day. Some patients report nocturnal diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, chills, severe nausea, dehydration and weight loss. Rare complications may include mucosal atrophy with long standing collagenous colitis. Colitis patients report a significantly diminished quality of life.
Causes
The exact cause of collagenous colitis is unknown.
Diagnosis
On colonoscopy, the mucosa of the colon typically looks normal, but biopsies of affected tissue usually show deposition of collagen in the lamina propria, which is the area of connective tissue between colonic glands. Radiological tests, such as a barium enema are typically normal.
Treatment
Treatment of collagenous colitis is often challenging, and many agents have been used therapeutically:
- Bismuth agents, including Pepto-Bismol
- 5-aminosalicylic acid
- Budesonide
- Immunosuppressants, including azathioprine
- Corticosteroids
Pilot investigational studies have shown some evidence of possible benefit for both Boswellia serrata extract and specific strains of probiotics in the treatment of collegenous colitis, although larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the results.[1][2][3]
See also
References
personal experience with disease
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