What are collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis?
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is the general name for diseases or disorders that cause inflammation in the intestines, most often referring to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Two other types of bowel inflammation affecting the colon are collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. The colon is a tube that runs from the first part of the large intestine or bowel to the rectum. Stool moves through this tube to be eliminated.
These two conditions, collagenous and lymphocytic colitis, are not related to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, which are more severe forms of IBD.
Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are also known as microscopic colitis. Microscopic colitis means that there is no visible sign of inflammation or swelling on the inner surface of the colon when viewed through colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. These two tests let a doctor view the inside of your large intestine. Because the inflammation is not easily viewed, a test called biopsy is necessary to make a diagnosis. In this test, a small piece of tissue is removed from the lining of the intestine during a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. The tissue sample is then studied under a microscope.
Who gets collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis?
Collagenous colitis is most often diagnosed in people between 60 and 80 years of age. However, some cases have been reported in adults younger than 45 years and in children. Collagenous colitis is diagnosed more often in women than men.
People with lymphocytic colitis are also generally diagnosed between 60 and 80 years of age. Both men and women are equally affected.
Symptoms of Collagenous Colitis and Lymphocytic Colitis
The symptoms of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are the same. Symptoms may include:
What causes collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis?
The cause of collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis is not fully understood. Experts believe that bacteria and their toxins, or a virus may be responsible for causing the inflammation and damage to the colon. While other scientists think that collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis may be because of an autoimmune response, which means that the body's immune system attacks healthy cells for no known reason.
How are collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis diagnosed?
Some scientists think that collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are the same disease in different stages. The only way to determine which form of colitis a person has is by performing a biopsy.
A diagnosis of collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis is made after tissue samples taken during a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy are examined with a microscope.
Collagenous colitis is characterized by a larger-than-normal band of protein called collagen inside the lining of the colon. The thickness of the band varies; so several tissue samples from different areas of the colon may need to be examined.
With lymphocytic colitis, tissue samples show an increase of white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, between the cells that line the colon. The collagen is not affected.
How are collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis treated?
Treatment for collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis varies depending on the symptoms and severity of the case. The diseases have been known to resolve on their own, although most people suffer from ongoing or occasional diarrhea.
Lifestyle changes are usually tried first. Recommended changes include reducing the amount of fat in the diet, eliminating foods that contain caffeine and lactose, and avoiding over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, medications can be used to help control symptoms.
Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis do not increase a person’s risk of getting colon cancer.
commondigestivedisorders.blogspot.com does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
Source: Adapted from The National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 06–5036, January 2006
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Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is the general name for diseases or disorders that cause inflammation in the intestines, most often referring to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Two other types of bowel inflammation affecting the colon are collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. The colon is a tube that runs from the first part of the large intestine or bowel to the rectum. Stool moves through this tube to be eliminated.
These two conditions, collagenous and lymphocytic colitis, are not related to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, which are more severe forms of IBD.
Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are also known as microscopic colitis. Microscopic colitis means that there is no visible sign of inflammation or swelling on the inner surface of the colon when viewed through colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. These two tests let a doctor view the inside of your large intestine. Because the inflammation is not easily viewed, a test called biopsy is necessary to make a diagnosis. In this test, a small piece of tissue is removed from the lining of the intestine during a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy. The tissue sample is then studied under a microscope.
Who gets collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis?
Collagenous colitis is most often diagnosed in people between 60 and 80 years of age. However, some cases have been reported in adults younger than 45 years and in children. Collagenous colitis is diagnosed more often in women than men.
People with lymphocytic colitis are also generally diagnosed between 60 and 80 years of age. Both men and women are equally affected.
Symptoms of Collagenous Colitis and Lymphocytic Colitis
The symptoms of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are the same. Symptoms may include:
• Chronic (long-term), watery, non-bloody diarrheaPeople with collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis may suffer from ongoing diarrhea while others have times when they are symptom free.
• Abdominal pain or cramping
What causes collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis?
The cause of collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis is not fully understood. Experts believe that bacteria and their toxins, or a virus may be responsible for causing the inflammation and damage to the colon. While other scientists think that collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis may be because of an autoimmune response, which means that the body's immune system attacks healthy cells for no known reason.
How are collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis diagnosed?
Some scientists think that collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are the same disease in different stages. The only way to determine which form of colitis a person has is by performing a biopsy.
A diagnosis of collagenous colitis or lymphocytic colitis is made after tissue samples taken during a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy are examined with a microscope.
Collagenous colitis is characterized by a larger-than-normal band of protein called collagen inside the lining of the colon. The thickness of the band varies; so several tissue samples from different areas of the colon may need to be examined.
With lymphocytic colitis, tissue samples show an increase of white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, between the cells that line the colon. The collagen is not affected.
How are collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis treated?
Treatment for collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis varies depending on the symptoms and severity of the case. The diseases have been known to resolve on their own, although most people suffer from ongoing or occasional diarrhea.
Lifestyle changes are usually tried first. Recommended changes include reducing the amount of fat in the diet, eliminating foods that contain caffeine and lactose, and avoiding over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, medications can be used to help control symptoms.
• Treatment usually starts with prescription anti-inflammatory medications, such as mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to reduce swelling.For extreme cases of collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis that have not responded to medication, surgery to remove all or part of the colon may be necessary. However, surgery is rarely recommended.
• Steroids, including budesonide (Entocort) and prednisone are also used to reduce inflammation. Steroids are usually only used to control a sudden attack of diarrhea.
Long-term use of steroids is avoided because of side effects such as bone loss and high blood pressure.
• Anti-diarrheal medications such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol), diphenoxylate atropine (Lomotil), and loperamide (Imodium) offer short-term relief.
• Immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprine (Imuran) reduce the inflammation but are rarely needed.
Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis do not increase a person’s risk of getting colon cancer.
commondigestivedisorders.blogspot.com does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
Source: Adapted from The National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 06–5036, January 2006
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