PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Tristan Townsend
AU  - Fiona Campbell
AU  - Paul O’Toole
AU  - Chris Probert
TI  - Microscopic colitis: diagnosis and management
AID  - 10.1136/flgastro-2018-101040
DP  - 2019 Oct 01
TA  - Frontline Gastroenterology
PG  - 388--393
VI  - 10
IP  - 4
4099  - http://fg.bmj.com/content/10/4/388.short
4100  - http://fg.bmj.com/content/10/4/388.full
SO  - Frontline Gastroenterol2019 Oct 01; 10
AB  - Microscopic colitis (MC) is a common cause of chronic, non-bloody, watery diarrhoea in older patients. The diagnosis depends on characteristic histological findings. Bile acid malabsorption and autoimmune conditions, including coeliac disease, are more frequently found in patients with MC, but colorectal neoplasia and mortality are not increased. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, proton-pump inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and smoking tobacco confer an increased risk of developing MC. Although a so-called benign disease, which rarely causes serious complications, it does have an impact on the quality of life. Several treatment options exist, but budesonide is the only treatment proven in randomised-controlled trials to be effective and safe for induction and maintenance of remission. This article provides a practical overview for the gastroenterologist looking after patients with MC.