Collagenous and Lymphocytic Colitis

Excerpt

Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic watery diarrhea that becomes more common as we age. Two types of microscopic colitis are defined based on findings by biopsy. These include collagenous and lymphocytic colitis. Clinical features of both of these are very similar. Patients will typically present with chronic, watery, non-bloody diarrhea.

Histologic changes define the two types of microscopic colitis. Often this presentation of symptoms will lead to evaluation for other types of inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. The incidence has been increasing throughout northern Europe and northern North America, which is more common in females.