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Collagenous colitis: are bacterial cytotoxins responsible?
T Andersen1, J R Andersen, M Tvede
1Department of Internal Medicine F, Gentofte County Hospital, Denmark.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Cholestyramine treatment resolved collagenous colitis symptoms and histology. Relapse occurred upon discontinuation, with fecal cytotoxic activity reappearing, suggesting a bacterial toxin
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Colitis Research
Background:
- Collagenous colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by a thickened subepithelial collagen layer.
- The etiology of collagenous colitis remains largely unknown, with various factors proposed.
Observation:
- A patient with collagenous colitis experienced symptom resolution with cholestyramine treatment.
- Discontinuation of cholestyramine led to disease relapse and the emergence of fecal cytotoxic activity.
- Reintroduction of cholestyramine resolved symptoms, histology, and cytotoxicity.
Findings:
- Fecal samples from the patient exhibited cytotoxic effects on McCoy cell lines during relapse.
- Cholestyramine treatment effectively neutralized this cytotoxic activity.
- This suggests a toxin, potentially bacterial, plays a role in collagenous colitis pathogenesis.
Implications:
- The findings suggest a novel therapeutic approach for collagenous colitis targeting a potential bacterial toxin.
- Further research is warranted to identify the specific toxin and its source.
- This case study opens new avenues for understanding and treating collagenous colitis.