ENDOSCOPIC AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROSCOPIC COLITIS

Aims:

Microscopic colitis (MC) is a common cause of chronic watery diarrhea. The diagnosis of MC is made by specific histopathological findings, with poor colonoscopic signs. The aim of this study was to identify macroscopic signs and clinical features that can be related to MC in patients, who underwent colonoscopic examination in 2016.

Methods:

From 2767 patients undergoing colonoscopy from January to December 2016 in our Unit, patients with histopathologically confirmed MC and non-specific inflammation were retrospectively analyzed for age, sex, endoscopic signs, several comorbidities, smoking habit and medication history.

Results:

130 patients were included into our study, with the leading symptom of diarrhea, abdominal pain or weight loss, and histopathologically confirmed bowel inflammation. 117 of them were diagnosed with aspecific or chronic colitis, whereas 13 patients with MC. 92% of MC patients, and 62% of non-specific inflammation cases were women. 46% of the patients with MC were between the age of 60 – 69. The most common symptom was diarhea, in both groups (85%/66%). Negative endoscopic findings were present in a significant proportion of both cases (85%/70%). Hyperemia appeared in 15% of MC cases. There was no correlation between the prevalence of MC and the presence of diabetes mellitus, previous gastrointestinal infections, autoimmune disease, IBS, appendectomy. Half of the SSRI users, 33% of NSAID, 18% of ASA, 17% of statin, and 9% of PPI users were diagnosed with MC. 12% of the smokers had MC.

Conclusions:

In our study, the majority of MC patients were female. The prevalence of the disease is higher after the age of 60. The endoscopic findings are often negative, the most common sign is hyperemia. The analyzed comorbidities do not influence the appearence of MC. A significant part of the SSRI users were diagnosed with MC.