Lymphocytic colitis
A subtype of microscopic colitis causing chronic watery diarrhea.
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Chronic non-bloody watery diarrhea is a hallmark of lymphocytic colitis, which falls under the category of microscopic colitis.[1] A specific cause for lymphocytic colitis remains unidentified.[2]
Quick Facts
- First described
- 1989
- Peak incidence
- persons over age 50
- Sex ratio
- affects twice as many women as men
- Associated drugs
- NSAIDs
- proton pump inhibitors
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Treatment
- budesonide
- antidiarrheal drugs
- anti-inflammatory drugs
- Effective treatment
- budesonide (colonic release)
- Other treatments
- antidiarrheal drugs
- salicylates
- mesalazine
- systemic corticosteroids
- Prognosis
- good, with relapses responding to treatment
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
The peak incidence occurs in persons over age 50.[2] The disease affects twice as many women as men.[2] The initial description of lymphocytic colitis appeared in the medical literature in 1989.[3] The presence of other autoimmune conditions alongside lymphocytic colitis points to an exaggerated immune system activity.[4]
Evidence from randomized controlled trials supports the effectiveness of budesonide, delivered via colonic release formulations, for treating this disorder.[5] For certain individuals, antidiarrheal medications available without a prescription can provide relief.[6] Most patients have a favorable long-term outlook, although some experience relapses that are manageable with therapy.[6]
What the research sources say
According to the 2012 European Microscopic Colitis Group statement, non-responders may be treated with anti-inflammatory agents like salicylates, mesalazine, or systemic corticosteroids.[6] The same 2012 statement also indicates that some patients might benefit from over-the-counter antidiarrheal drugs.[6] A 2017 Cochrane review confirms that budesonide is effective in treating this disorder.[5]
References
- Wikipedia, "Lymphocytic colitis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Microscopic colitis: Current status, present and future challenges: statements of the European Microscopic Colitis Group.", J Crohns Colitis, 2012, p. 932–45; "Systematic review: are lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis two subtypes of the same disease - microscopic colitis?", Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2012, p. 79–90 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Lymphocytic colitis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hempel, "Collagenous and Lymphocytic Colitis", StatPearls, 2024 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Lymphocytic colitis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Lymphocytic ("microscopic") colitis: a comparative histopathologic study with particular reference to collagenous colitis", Hum. Pathol., 1989, p. 18–28 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Lymphocytic colitis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Park, "Microscopic colitis: A review of etiology, treatment and refractory disease.", World Journal of Gastroenterology, 7 August 2015, p. 8804–10 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Lymphocytic colitis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Chande, "Interventions for treating lymphocytic colitis.", The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 13 July 2017; "Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis. evaluation of clinical and histological features, response to treatment, and long-term follow-up.", Am J Gastroenterol, 2003, p. 340–7 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Lymphocytic colitis" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Microscopic colitis: Current status, present and future challenges: statements of the European Microscopic Colitis Group.", J Crohns Colitis, 2012, p. 932–45 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Lymphocytic colitis (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Inflammatory diseases of the digestive system
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Lymphocytic colitis (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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