Collagenous colitis
Collagenous colitis | |
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Micrograph of collagenous colitis. H&E stain. | |
Specialty | Gastroenterology |
Collagenous colitis is an
Although cases are known to occur in all age groups, the disease is most frequently diagnosed in late
Signs and symptoms
In general, microscopic colitis causes chronic watery diarrhea with increased stool frequency. Some patients report
Causes
The cause of collagenous colitis is unknown. A connection with autoimmune disorders such as
Diagnosis
On
Treatment
First line treatment for collagenous colitis is the use of budesonide, a steroid that works locally in the colon and is highly cleared by first pass effect. Other medications that can be used include the following:[1][6]
- Pepto-Bismol
- 5-aminosalicylic acid
- Immunosuppressants, including azathioprine
- Infliximab
Pilot-scale studies have shown some evidence of possible benefit for both
Epidemiology
One epidemiological study reported previous
An updated study on microscopic colitis in Olmsted County published in 2022 and based on data from between 2011 and 2019 found an incidence rate for collagenous colitis of 9.9 cases per 100,000 person-years, a prevalence of 100.1 per 100,000 persons and a female-male ratio of 4.7. Unlike in the previous study on data from 1995-1999, the rate of collagenous colitis in Olmsted County was found to have remained stable between 2011 and 2019.[3] Another study on rates of microscopic colitis in Denmark between 2001 and 2016 found an overall incidence rate for collagenous colitis of 12.2 per 100,000 person-years, a prevalence of 116.7 per 100,000 persons and a female-male ratio of 3.1. Like the 1995-1999 Olmsted County study and the 1995-1999 Icelandic study, this Danish study found a heavy increase in rates of collagenous colitis and microscopic colitis overall during the studied period, with the incidence rates in 2001 and 2016 for microscopic colitis found to be, respectively, 2.3 and 24.3 cases per 100,000 person-years. However, the incidence rates of collagenous colitis in this Danish data peaked in 2011 with a rate of 19.6 cases per 100,000 person-years, and rates appeared to be stable between 2012 and 2016. The average age at diagnosis was found to be 67, and the highest incidence rate was found among patients over the age of 80. The strong increase in the case rates of microscopic colitis (with collagenous colitis making up 59% of these cases) throughout the study period meant that by 2016, microscopic colitis had a greater incidence rate in Denmark than did Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The authors suggest an increase in the use of colonoscopies as a possible cause of the observed change in microscopic colitis diagnoses over time.[4]