title: Microscopic colitis: a common and an easily overlooked cause of chronic diarrhoea.
abstract: Microscopic colitis, comprising collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis, is characterised clinically by chronic watery diarrhoea, a macroscopically normal colonic mucosa where diagnostic histopathological features are seen on microscopic examination. The annual incidence of each disorder is 4-6/100,000 inhabitants, with a peak incidence in 60-70 year old individuals and a noticeable female predominance in collagenous colitis. The aetiology is unknown. Abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue, and faecal incontinence are common symptoms in addition to chronic diarrhoea that impair the health-related quality of life of the patient. There is an association to other autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders and arthritis. Budesonide is the best-documented short-term treatment, but the optimal long-term strategy needs further study. The long-term prognosis is good and the risk of complications including colonic cancer is low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nyhlin
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bohr
authors.forename: Sune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Curt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tysk
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D046728:Colitis, Microscopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis