title: Advances for improved diagnosis of microscopic colitis in patients with chronic diarrhoea.
abstract: Microscopic colitis is a generic term that includes 2 main forms, collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis, and describes a form of inflammatory bowel disease with a chronic and relapsing course. The incidence of microscopic colitis is between 2 and 8 times higher in women than in men, although age, more than sex, increases the risk of collagenous colitis (odds ratio [OR] 8.3 for age ≥65 vs. <65 and OR 2.8 for women). The main symptom is chronic non-bloody watery diarrhoea. Other common symptoms include abdominal pain (50%-70%), with the result that many patients with microscopic colitis meet criteria for irritable bowel syndrome. Colonoscopy with multiple colonic biopsies is currently recommended, as histological changes are the main characteristic feature. The colonic mucosa is macroscopically normal, although certain minimal endoscopic abnormalities have been described.
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Digestivo, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, CIBERehd, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Yamile
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zabana
authors.affiliation: Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, CIBERehd, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Digestivo, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, CIBERehd, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aceituno
authors.affiliation: Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, CIBERehd, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Digestivo, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, CIBERehd, Terrassa, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: ffbanares@mutuaterrassa.es.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández-Bañares
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D046728:Colitis, Microscopic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D058996:Quality Improvement
keywords: Colitis colágena; Colitis linfocítica; Colitis microscópica; Collagenous colitis; Criterios histológicos; Diagnóstico endoscópico; Endoscopic features; Histological criteria; Lymphocytic colitis; Microscopic colitis