BACKGROUND: Lymphocytic colitis is characterised by chronic watery diarrhoea with normal endoscopic or radiological findings and microscopic evidence of pronounced infiltration of the colonic mucosa with lymphocytes. AIM: To investigate the long term clinical and histological evolution of the disease in a large group of patients with well characterised lymphocytic colitis. METHODS: Between 1986 and 1995 the histological diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis was obtained in 35 patients; 27 of these agreed to a follow up examination. All clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological records were reviewed at that time and the patients had a second endoscopic examination with follow up biopsies. RESULTS: The patients initially presented with the typical findings of lymphocytic colitis. After a mean (SD) follow up of 37.8 (27.5) months, diarrhoea subsided in 25 (93%) and histological normalisation was observed in 22 (82%) of the 27 patients. Progression from lymphocytic colitis to collagenous colitis was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphocytic colitis is characterised by a benign course with resolution of diarrhoea and normalisation of histology in over 80% of patients within 38 months. Considering the benign course of the disease, the potential benefit of any drug treatment should be carefully weighed against its potential side effects.
BACKGROUND:Lymphocytic colitis is characterised by chronic watery diarrhoea with normal endoscopic or radiological findings and microscopic evidence of pronounced infiltration of the colonic mucosa with lymphocytes. AIM: To investigate the long term clinical and histological evolution of the disease in a large group of patients with well characterised lymphocytic colitis. METHODS: Between 1986 and 1995 the histological diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis was obtained in 35 patients; 27 of these agreed to a follow up examination. All clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological records were reviewed at that time and the patients had a second endoscopic examination with follow up biopsies. RESULTS: The patients initially presented with the typical findings of lymphocytic colitis. After a mean (SD) follow up of 37.8 (27.5) months, diarrhoea subsided in 25 (93%) and histological normalisation was observed in 22 (82%) of the 27 patients. Progression from lymphocytic colitis to collagenous colitis was not observed. CONCLUSIONS:Lymphocytic colitis is characterised by a benign course with resolution of diarrhoea and normalisation of histology in over 80% of patients within 38 months. Considering the benign course of the disease, the potential benefit of any drug treatment should be carefully weighed against its potential side effects.
Authors: F M Giardiello; A J Lazenby; T M Bayless; E J Levine; W B Bias; P W Ladenson; D F Hutcheon; N L Derevjanik; J H Yardley Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 1989-11 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: M el-Shabrawi; M L Wilkinson; B Portmann; G Mieli-Vergani; S K Chong; R Williams; A P Mowat Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 1987-05 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: P D Thomas; A Forbes; J Green; P Howdle; R Long; R Playford; M Sheridan; R Stevens; R Valori; J Walters; G M Addison; P Hill; G Brydon Journal: Gut Date: 2003-07 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Nilesh Chande; Noor Al Yatama; Tania Bhanji; Tran M Nguyen; John Wd McDonald; John K MacDonald Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-07-13
Authors: Eugen Melcescu; Reed B Hogan; Keith Brown; Stewart A Boyd; Thomas L Abell; Christian A Koch Journal: Exp Mol Pathol Date: 2012-10-05 Impact factor: 3.362