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Lymphocytic colitis: a clue to an infectious trigger
1Dept. of Medicine, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
|February 27, 1999
Summary
A Campylobacter jejuni infection triggered an autoimmune response, leading to lymphocytic colitis in a young patient. Antibiotic treatment for the initial infection was ineffective, highlighting the autoimmune nature of the condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni infections can cause post-infectious sequelae.
- Autoimmune responses can be triggered by infectious agents.
- Lymphocytic colitis is a form of microscopic colitis characterized by increased intraepithelial lymphocytes.
Observation:
- A 19-year-old patient presented with prolonged watery diarrhea.
- Initial stool culture was positive for Campylobacter jejuni.
- Standard antibiotic treatment for Campylobacter jejuni yielded no improvement.
Findings:
- Colonoscopy with biopsies confirmed a diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis.
- The patient's persistent symptoms suggest an autoimmune etiology.
- The infectious process is hypothesized to have initiated an autoimmune cascade.
Implications:
- This case suggests a potential link between Campylobacter jejuni infection and the development of lymphocytic colitis.
- Understanding this association may lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for post-infectious autoimmune conditions.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking infection to autoimmune colitis.