title: Diagnosing collagenous colitis: does it make a difference?
abstract: Collagenous colitis is part of the spectrum of disorders known as microscopic colitis, which also include lymphocytic colitis and a mixed disorder with both a collagen band present and also intra-epithelial lymphocytes. Collagenous colitis appears to be caused by mucosal injury from toxins in the faecal stream. The collagen band is a result of the underlying inflammatory process and not the cause of symptoms. The diagnosis is based on colonic mucosal pathology and a compatible clinical presentation. Treatment is empiric and ranges from no therapy, to anti-inflammatory or anti-secretory agents, to diverting ileostomy.
authors.affiliation: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic, Division of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. tremaine.william@mayo.edu
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Tremaine
mesh_terms: D003092:Colitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003094:Collagen; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen