Microscopic colitis: review of literature and personal observation
Abstract
Microscopic colitis is a particular form of chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases presented by lymphocytic and collagenous types. An annual incidence of the disease is 5-10 cases per 100000 of population, people aged 60-70 being the most frequently affected. Microscopic colitis is manifested by chronic watery diarrhea. The diagnosis is confirmed by hystologic investigation of tissues demonstrating the thickening of subepithelial collagenic fibers in collagenous colitis and increase of intraepithelial T-lymphocytes in lymphocytic colitis. The basic preparation in treatment of microscopic colitis is budesonide which allows to achieve remission of the disease in 80% of patients w ithin 8 w eeks. The aim of this review is to present the recent data about etiology, epidemiology, diagnostics and treatment of microscopic colitis to general practitioners, endoscopists and pathologists.