title: Contemporary methods for the diagnosis and treatment of microscopic colitis.
abstract: Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic diarrhea. It is characterized by non-bloody watery diarrhea with macroscopically normal colonic mucosa. Its specific histological characteristics confirm the diagnosis. Two distinct histological forms can be identified, namely, collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. In collagenous colitis, a thick colonic subepithelial collagenous deposit can be observed, whereas in lymphocytic colitis, a pronounced intraepithelial lymphocytic inflammation in the absence of a thickened collagen band can be identified. Microscopic colitis occurs more frequently in elderly females and its etiology is believed to be multifactorial, although smoking and consumption of several drugs have been identified as risks factors for the development of the disease. The treatment is based on avoiding the risks factors and administration of oral budesonide.
authors.affiliation: a 1 University Hospitals Leuven, Gastroenterology, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Aranzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jauregui-Amezaga
authors.affiliation: a 1 University Hospitals Leuven, Gastroenterology, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vermeire
authors.affiliation: b 2 University Hospitals Leuven, Pathology, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geboes
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001729:Bismuth / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D046728:Colitis, Microscopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012459:Salicylates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019804:Mesalamine; D019819:Budesonide; C015715:bismuth subsalicylate; D001729:Bismuth
keywords: chronic diarrhea; collagenous colitis; histology; lymphocytic colitis; microscopic colitis