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Microscopic colitis: the tip of the iceberg?
Paul A Kitchen1, A Jonathen Levi, Paula Domizio
1Northwick Park and St Mark's Hospitals, Harrow, UK. p.kitchen@ic.ac.uk
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|November 20, 2002
Summary
Hospital diagnosis of microscopic colitis varies widely, with a median of six cases per center. Some undesignated cases may link to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Histopathology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Microscopic colitis presents with watery diarrhea and normal endoscopy.
- Histological confirmation is essential for diagnosis.
- Variability in diagnostic practices across healthcare institutions can impact patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess inter-hospital variability in diagnosing microscopic colitis.
- To consolidate clinical data related to microscopic colitis diagnoses.
- To investigate potential associations with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 90 patients diagnosed with microscopic colitis across 11 hospitals.
- Data collected via questionnaire for patients diagnosed between 1990-1996.
- Inclusion criteria: watery diarrhea, normal endoscopy, and initial histological diagnosis; slides were reviewed.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in patient numbers diagnosed per hospital (median of six).
- Histology review confirmed 37 collagenous colitis, 18 lymphocytic colitis, and 7 undesignated microscopic colitis cases.
- 34% of patients reported recent NSAID use.
Conclusions:
- Confirms substantial hospital-level variation in microscopic colitis diagnosis.
- Undesignated microscopic colitis cases may be linked to NSAID exposure.
- Highlights the need for standardized diagnostic criteria and data collection.