title: Subepithelial collagen thickening in the colon: report on a series of 23 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the prevalence of collagenous colitis in patients presenting with diarrhoea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive retrospective study in consecutive patients under study because of chronic diarrhoea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a 4.5-year period 23 consecutive patients had histological signs of thickening of the subepithelial collagen band in the colon. There was a female predominance: 19 women versus 4 men, mean age 60 years (range 33-83). The stool frequency was 1-13 stools daily. Indicanuria was present in 9 patients. The patients were divided into 3 groups: those with definite collagenous colitis (n = 11; thickness of the collagen band of more than 10 micrometer); those with indefinite collagenous colitis (n = 8; thickness between 3 and 10 micrometer), and those with a collagen band between 1 and 3 micrometer (n = 4). During a mean follow-up of 20 months (range 13-36), 7 patients had waxing and waning episodes of diarrhoea, 11 showed spontaneous waning of complaints and a lower stool frequency. The 9 patients with indicanuria did well after a course of tetracyclin 250 mg t.i.d., but all cases relapsed during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that thickening of the collagen band and collagenous colitis are not as unusual as usually thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Zaandam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Loffeld
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Balk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003092:Colitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019804:Mesalamine; D003094:Collagen