Prevalence of microscopic colitis in patients with symptoms suggesting irritable bowel syndrome
Tunçer, C.; Cindoruk, M.; Dursun, A.; Karakan, T.
Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica 66(2): 133-136
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1784-3227 PMID: 12891921 Document Number: 556228
Irritable bowel syndrome is a common disorder affecting 20% of the general population. It shows certain characteristics with organic bowel diseases. Definition of lymphocytic and collagenous colitis has created a new approach towards chronic idiopathic diarrheas. We searched for the frequency of lymphocytic and collagenous colitis in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The study group consisted of 30 irritable bowel patients and 20 controls. Multiple biopsies from cecum; ascendant, transverse and descendent colon; sigmoid and rectum were taken sequentially in all patients. We diagnosed 7 out of 30 irritable bowel patients as having lymphocytic colitis (23.3%) but none as having collagenous colitis. In the control group 1 out of 20 patients had lymphocytic colitis (5%) and none had collagenous colitis. Irritable bowel patients had higher rate of lymphocytic colitis association (p < 0.05). Functional disorders of the bowel should be searched for possible lymphocytic colitis, especially in cases refractory to classical therapies.