Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
Performing Colonoscopic-Guided Pinch Biopsies in Mice and Evaluating Subsequent Tissue Changes
Published on: February 5, 2021
Microscopic colitis. A review
William R Brown1, Shalini Tayal
1Department of Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA. imesmeded@gmail.com
Microscopic colitis (MC) causes watery diarrhea with normal colonoscopy but distinct microscopic findings. Budesonide shows the most persuasive evidence for effective MC treatment.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Microscopic colitis (MC) presents with watery diarrhea, normal colonoscopy, and characteristic microscopic findings.
- Two subtypes, lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis, exist, sometimes with overlapping features.
- MC incidence is increasing, potentially accounting for a significant portion of non-bloody diarrhea cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of microscopic colitis.
- To discuss its diagnosis, potential causes, and treatment options.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on microscopic colitis.
- Analysis of reported treatment efficacies and etiological factors.
Main Results:
- MC is associated with multifactorial causes, immunological abnormalities, and autoimmune diseases like celiac disease.
- Medications such as NSAIDs and PPIs are implicated but not definitively causative.
- Budesonide is the most studied and effective treatment for MC.
Conclusions:
- MC should be considered in unexplained watery diarrhea, necessitating biopsies of normal-appearing mucosa.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the exact causes and pathogenesis of MC.
- Budesonide offers the most evidence-based therapeutic option currently available.
More Related Videos
05:41Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model
Published on: April 6, 2022
07:38Multimodal Quantitative Phase Imaging with Digital Holographic Microscopy Accurately Assesses Intestinal Inflammation and Epithelial Wound Healing
Published on: September 13, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...