Erdem L, Yildirim S, Akbayir N, Yilmaz B, Yenice N, Gültekin OS, Peker &. Prevalence of microscopic colitis in patients with diarrhea of unknown etiology in Turkey. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14(27): 4319-4323 [PMID: 18666319 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.14.4319]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Levent Erdem, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Şişli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Abide-i Hürriyet cad. Şen ap. No. 103/1 Şen Ap. K:1 D:2 Şişli, Istanbul 34381, Turkey. leventerdem2003@yahoo.com
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Clinical Research
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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2008; 14(27): 4319-4323 Published online Jul 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.4319
Prevalence of microscopic colitis in patients with diarrhea of unknown etiology in Turkey
Levent Erdem, Sadik Yildirim, Nihat Akbayir, Banu Yilmaz, Necati Yenice, Orhan Sami Gültekin, Önder Peker
Levent Erdem, Nihat Akbayir, Department of Gastroen-terology, Şişli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34381, Turkey
Sadik Yildirim, Department of General Surgery, Şişli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34381, Turkey
Banu Yilmaz, Department of Pathology, Şişli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34381, Turkey
Necati Yenice, Department of Gastroenterology, Okmeydani Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34381, Turkey
Orhan Sami Gültekin, Endotip Private Endoscopy Center, Istanbul 34381, Turkey
Önder Peker, Department of Pathology, Haydarpaşa Numune Teaching and Research Hospital, Istanbul 34381, Turkey
Author contributions: Erdem L and Yildirim S designed research; Erdem L, Yildirim S, Akbayir N, Yenice N, Gültekin OS performed research; Peker Ö and Yilmaz B performed pathologic examinations; and Erdem L, Yildirim S and Akbayir N analyzed data and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Levent Erdem, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Şişli Etfal Teaching and Research Hospital, Abide-i Hürriyet cad. Şen ap. No. 103/1 Şen Ap. K:1 D:2 Şişli, Istanbul 34381, Turkey. leventerdem2003@yahoo.com
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Received: August 2, 2007 Revised: July 3, 2008 Accepted: July 10, 2008 Published online: July 21, 2008
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the prevalence and demography of microscopic colitis in patients with diarrhea of unknown etiology and normal colonoscopy in Turkey.
METHODS: Between March, 1998 to July, 2005, 129 patients with chronic non-bloody diarrhea of unexplained etiology who had undergone full colonoscopy with no obvious abnormalities were included in the study. Two biopsies were obtained from all colonic segments and terminal ileum for diagnosis of microscopic colitis. On histopathologic examination, criteria for lymphocytic colitis (intraepithelial lymphocyte ≥ 20 per 100 intercryptal epithelial cells, change in surface epithelium, mononuclear infiltration of the lamina propria) and collagenous colitis (subepithelial collagen band thickness ≥ 10 &mgr;m) were explored.
RESULTS: Lymphocytic colitis was diagnosed in 12 (9%) patients (Female/Male: 7/5, mean age: 45 year, range: 27-63) and collagenous colitis was diagnosed in only 3 (2.5%) patients (all female, mean age: 60 years, range: 54-65).
CONCLUSION: Biopsy of Turkish patients with the diagnosis of chronic non-bloody diarrhea of unexplained etiology and normal colonoscopic findings will reveal microscopic colitis in approximately 10% of the patients. Lymphocytic colitis is 4 times more frequent than collagenous colitis in these patients.
