title: Diagnosis and management of microscopic colitis.
abstract: Microscopic colitis, comprising collagenous and lymphocytic colitis, is characterized clinically by chronic watery diarrhea, and 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 for collagenous colitis. The etiology is unknown. Chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and fecal incontinence are common symptoms, which impair the health-related quality of life of the patient. There is an association with 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, SE-701 85 Orebro, Sweden. curt.tysk@orebroll.se
authors.forename: Curt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tysk
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bohr
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nyhlin
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wickbom
authors.forename: Sune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eriksson
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D046728:Colitis, Microscopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019819:Budesonide