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Published on: October 16, 2013
Progression of collagenous colitis to ulcerative colitis
C S Pokorny1, K L Kneale, C J Henderson
1Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia. cpokorny@racp.edu.au
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology
|April 25, 2001
Summary
Collagenous colitis, a cause of watery diarrhea, may progress to ulcerative colitis. This suggests they could be part of a spectrum of inflammatory bowel disease, requiring monitoring for symptom changes.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Collagenous colitis is a microscopic colitis characterized by chronic watery diarrhea, primarily affecting middle-aged women.
- It is generally considered a benign condition and not a precursor to overt inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Observation:
- This report details two cases of collagenous colitis that subsequently progressed to ulcerative colitis.
- One patient had a long history of undiagnosed diarrhea before collagenous colitis diagnosis, while the second developed ulcerative colitis within a year of diagnosis.
Findings:
- Both patients developed positive perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) status after progressing to ulcerative colitis.
- These cases, along with a prior report, indicate a potential link between collagenous colitis and ulcerative colitis.
Implications:
- Collagenous colitis and ulcerative colitis may represent different manifestations of the same inflammatory bowel disease spectrum.
- Clinicians should consider the possibility of progression to ulcerative colitis in patients with collagenous colitis, especially if bloody diarrhea or fecal leukocytes appear.
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