Suggest Treatment For Collagenous Colitis

Posted on Wed, 27 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 27 Aug 2014 Answered on

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I was diagnosed with collageneous colitis last year and have been on a number of medications, with varying degrees of success. I just had a repeat colonoscopy. It is now showing as lymphocytic colitis. What is the difference, or are they varying degrees of the same disorder? Is the prognosis better for one than the other? Thank you!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed below!

Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.

Colitis is defined as inflammation of colon .
A special type of colitis is Microscopic colitis, which includes collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis.
These two conditions have different features in microscopic examination but they have identical symptoms ,treatment and prognosis.

It has been suggested that this two conditions represent different phases of a single pathophysiologic process, with Lymphocytic colitis possibly being a precursor or earlier phase of Collagenous colitis , however, this has not been proven.

So for now the only differences between these two forms are in microscopic level.
They have the same treatment and the same prognosis.

Hope it was of help.
Let me know if you have other questions or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.

Kind Regards!
Dr.Rovena Murati

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar