Microscopic colitis found together with celiac disease in a female population is associated with one episode of lymphocytic colitis.

BACKGROUND: Microscopic colitis (MC) is considered a chronic disease associated with autoimmune disease, smoking, and drugs. The aim was to examine the association between MC and celiac disease, adjusted for smoking, considering subtypes and clinical course of the disease in a retrospectively collected female cohort. METHODS: Women (n = 240), ≤ 73 years, diagnosed as MC in medical records or pathological registers were invited. One hundred and fifty-eight women accepted to be included. Participants completed a study questionnaire about sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits, and medical history; the Rome III questionnaire; and the visual analog scale for irritable bowel syndrome (VAS-IBS). Participants were categorized into collagenous colitis (CC) (n = 92) and lymphocytic colitis (LC) (n = 66) or MC with one episode of the disease (n = 70) and refractory MC (n = 88). Presence of IBS-like symptoms were noted. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Differences between groups were calculated and logistic regression was adjusted for smoking habits. RESULTS: MC and celiac disease debuted simultaneously in half of the cases. Celiac disease was most prevalent in LC (12.1% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.05) and MC with one episode (12.9% vs. 2.3%; p = 0.01). Anti-transglutaminase antibodies were found in one patient with one episode of MC. Corticosteroid use was most often found in CC (37.0% vs. 21.2%; p = 0.037) and refractory MC (38.6% vs. 20.0%; p = 0.015). Past smokers were most prevalent in patients with one episode of MC (54.3 vs. 29.5%; p = 0.007). Current smoking was the smoking habit with highest prevalence of IBS-like symptoms. When adjusted for smoking habits, celiac disease was associated with LC (OR: 4.222; 95% CI: 1.020-17.469; p = 0.047) and tended to be inversely associated with refractory MC (OR: 0.210; 95% CI: 0.042-1.506; p = 0.058). CONCLUSION: Celiac disease is most common in patients with one episode of LC. The question remains whether LC in combination with celiac disease should be classified as celiac disease or two different entities.

Appendectomy and Future Risk of Microscopic Colitis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Microscopic colitis (MC) is an inflammatory bowel disease and a common cause of chronic diarrhea. Appendectomy has been suggested to have immunomodulating effects in the colon, influencing the risk of gastrointestinal disease. The relationship between appendectomy and MC has only been sparsely studied. METHODS: This was a case-control study based on the nationwide ESPRESSO (Epidemiology Strengthened by histoPathology Reports in Sweden) cohort, consisting of histopathological examinations in Sweden, linked to national registers. Patients with MC were matched to population controls by age, sex, calendar year of biopsy, and county of residence. Data on antecedent appendectomy and comorbidities were retrieved from the Patient Register. Unconditional logistic regression models were conducted presenting odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for country of birth and matching factors. Further subanalyses were made based on MC subtypes (lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis), follow-up time postappendectomy and severity of appendicitis. RESULTS: The study included 14,520 cases of MC and 69,491 controls, among these 7.6% (n = 1103) and 5.1% (n = 3510), respectively, had a previous appendectomy ≥1 year prior to MC or matching date. Patients with a previous appendectomy had an increased risk of MC in total (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.40-1.61) and per the collagenous colitis subtype (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.48-1.88) or lymphocytic colitis subtype (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.30-1.55). The risk remained elevated throughout follow-up, and the highest risk was observed in noncomplicated appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide case-control study found a modestly increased risk of developing MC following appendectomy.

[Lymphocytic colitis caused by medicine ingredient modification].

A 49-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment of diarrhea. Colonoscopic findings revealed indistinct vascular patterns and extensive edema in a colon segment, and white granular mucosa and crack-like appearance in the sigmoid colon and rectum. She was diagnosed with lymphocytic colitis (LC) based on lymphocytic infiltration into the epithelium on histopathological examination. Diarrhea symptoms resolved after long-term medication withdrawal. This medicine's composition was changed 4 years ago and this modification possibly triggered LC.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics, and response to treatment in 113 patients with microscopic colitis. / Características epidemiológicas, clínicas y respuesta al tratamiento en 113 pacientes con colitis microscópica.

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, and response to treatment in patients with microscopic colitis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Epidemiological, clinical, blood test and endoscopic data were retrospectively collected from 113 patients with microscopic colitis. Response to treatment was analyzed in 104 of them. Efficacy and relapse after treatment with budesonide were assessed using survival curves (Kaplan-Meier). RESULTS: 78% of the patients were women, with a mean age of 65 ± 16 years. In smokers, the mean age was 10 years younger. 48% of them had some concomitant autoimmune disease; 60% suffered a single outbreak of the disease. The clinical presentation was similar in both subtypes, although patients with collagenous colitis had a chronic course more frequently (48% vs. 29%, p = 0.047). The remission rate with budesonide was 93% (95% CI 82-98). The cumulative incidence of relapse, after a median follow-up of 21 months, was 39% (95% CI 26-54%): 19% at one year, 32% at two years, and 46% at three years of follow-up. There were no differences in clinical response to budesonide based on smoking habit or microscopic colitis subtype. CONCLUSIONS: Microscopic colitis is more frequent in elderly women. Smoking was associated with earlier onset of the disease, although it did not influence the clinical course or response to treatment. The majority (> 90%) of patients treated with budesonide achieved remission, although nearly half subsequently relapsed.

Incidence, Clinical Presentation, and Associated Factors of Microscopic Colitis in Northern France: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: To date, there are no epidemiological data on microscopic colitis (MC) in France. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of MC in the Somme department in Northern France, to evaluate clinical characteristics, and to search for risk factors for both collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC). DESIGN: Between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007, four pathology units in the Somme department recorded all new cases of MC diagnosed in patients living in the area. Colonic biopsies were reviewed by 4 pathologists together. For each incident case, demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and biological data were collected according to methodology of the EPIMAD registry. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty cases of MC, including 87 CC and 43 LC, were recorded during the three-year study. The mean annual incidence for MC was 7.9/105 inhabitants, 5.3/105 inhabitants for CC, and 2.6/105 inhabitants for LC. Annual standardized incidence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in the EPIMAD registry during the same period (2005-2007) were 7.4/105 and 4.9/105, respectively. Median age at diagnosis was 63 years for MC, 70 for CC, and 48 for LC. The female-to-male gender ratio was 3.5 for MC, 4.1 for CC, and 2.6 for LC. Median time to diagnosis was 8 weeks. Chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain were, respectively, present in 93 and 47 % of the cases. An autoimmune disease was associated in 28 % of MC cases. At diagnosis, proton pump inhibitor treatment was more often reported in CC than in LC (46 vs 16 %; p = 0.003). Budesonide was effective on diarrhea in 77 % of patients, and thirteen percent of patients became steroid dependent. CONCLUSION: This population-based study shows that the incidence of MC in France is high and similar to Crohn's disease incidence and confirms that this condition is associated with female gender, autoimmune diseases, and medications.

[Concurrent lymphocytic colitis and microscopic enteritis in patients with chronic diarrhea]. / Coexistencia de colitis linfocítica y enteritis microscópica en pacientes con diarrea crónica.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphocytic colitis and microscopic enteritis are relatively common causes of chronic diarrhea and it is characterized by an intraepithelial lymphocytic infiltrate. There have been no previous reports of coexistence between these 2 pathologies. OBJECTIVE: To describe histological and clinical characteristic in patients with coexistence of lymphocytic colitis and microscopic enteritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All cases with simultaneous diagnosis of lymphocytic duodenosis and lymphocytic colitis were reevaluated during lapse time 2010-2016 in hospital Daniel Carrion. The slides were reviewed by 3 pathologists and clinical information was obtained from clinical records. Expression of CD3 and CD8 was detected in 6 cases by immunohistochemical assays. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients with coexistence of lymphocytic duodenitis and lymphocytic colitis were selected of the pathology archives, 80% were females, Anemia was identified in 28.5% of patients. Blastocysitis hominis infestation was identified in 31.8%. The mean intraepithelial lymphocyte CD8 and CD3 positive was 40% in microscopic enteritis, while the mean intraepithelial lymphocyte CD3 positive was 37.2% and CD8 positive was 29.2% Additionally, lymphocytic ileitis was diagnosed in 11 of our cases. Eosinophilic colitis was diagnosed in 9 cases of lymphocytic colitis Conclusion: We found that lymphocytic colitis, microscopic enteritis and even lymphocytic ileitis can coexist in a group of patients with chronic diarrhea. These findings bring the question if this concurrence of both pathologies constituted a more generalized gastrointestinal disorder, involving both the large and the small intestines.

Microscopic colitis: a descriptive clinical cohort study of 795 patients with collagenous and lymphocytic colitis.

OBJECTIVE: Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic diarrhoea in the Scandinavian countries. This report comprises demographic data, clinical and endoscopic features, and occurrence of coeliac and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a large urban cohort of patients with lymphocytic colitis (LC) and collagenous colitis (CC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 795 patients with microscopic colitis from two hospitals in Stockholm were included. Medical records were reviewed and clinical data, including endoscopic and histological findings, were compiled. RESULTS: Forty-three percent had CC (female:male ratio 3.7:1) and 57% had LC (female:male ratio 2.7:1). The mean age at diagnosis of CC was 63 years and of LC was 59 years (p = 0.005). Clinical features were similar in both entities, but the intensity of symptoms differed. Watery diarrhoea was reported in 55% in CC patients versus in 43% in LC patients (p = 0.0014), and nocturnal diarrhoea in 28% versus 18% (p = 0.002). Subtle endoscopic mucosal findings were reported in 37% of the CC patients and in 25% of the LC patients (p = 0.0011). Colorectal adenomatous polyps were found in 5.3% of all patients. Coeliac disease occurred in 6% and IBD occurred in 2.1% of all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features of LC and CC are similar but not identical. CC seems to be a more severe type of bowel inflammation and LC tends to occur earlier in life. Both forms might indeed feature endoscopic findings despite the designation 'microscopic'. Our study confirms the strong association with coeliac disease.

Pyoderma gangrenosum in association with microscopic colitis, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome, selective IgE deficiency and diabetes mellitus.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a neutrophilic dermatosis of unknown aetiology. We report a 27-year-old male patient with diabetes, who presented with a nonhealing ulcer on the left leg, pruritic hyperpigmented papules distributed over the trunk and limbs, and chronic diarrhoea. He had eosinophilia, low haemoglobin and serum IgE levels, and raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Histopathology of the leg ulcer was consistent with the diagnosis of PG, while the histology of the hyperpigmented papule revealed tissue eosinophilia. Subsequent evaluation was conclusive of the diagnosis of PG, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES) and selective IgE deficiency. Dexamethasone pulse therapy achieved resolution of the ulcer and reduction in the eosinophilia. Further evaluation for the persistent diarrhoea led to a diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis (LC), which responded to budesonide. To our knowledge, the association of PG with IHES, selective IgE deficiency or LC has not been previously reported.

Microscopic colitis or functional bowel disease with diarrhea: a French prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of a cohort of patients with microscopic colitis (MC; lymphocytic (LC) or collagenous (CC) colitis) and to compare them with patients with functional bowel disorder with diarrhea (FBD-D). METHODS: Between September 2010 and June 2012, patients fulfilling the following inclusion criteria were prospectively included in 26 centers in France: (i) having at least three bowel movements daily with change in stool consistency; (ii) duration of abnormal bowel habit >4 weeks; and (iii) normal or near-normal colonoscopy. Each patient underwent a colonoscopy and colonic biopsies. We compared the demographic, clinical, biological, and etiological characteristic of patients with MC (CC and LC) with those of control patients with FBD-D. RESULTS: A total of 433 patients were included: 129 with MC (87 LC and 42 CC), 23 with another organic disease, and 278 with FDB-D, including patients with diarrhea and abdominal pain who met the criteria of Rome III (irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea) and patients with functional diarrhea without abdominal pain. Logistic regression analysis identified the following independent predictors of MC: age >50 years (odds ratio (OR)=3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.6-5.9), presence of nocturnal stools (OR=2, 95% CI=1.1-3.9), weight loss (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.3-4.7), duration of diarrhea <12 months (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.1-3.5), recent introduction of new drugs (OR=3.7, 95% CI=2.1-6.6; P<0.0001), and the presence of a known autoimmune disorder (OR=5.5, 95% CI=2.5-12). CONCLUSIONS: Age >50 years, the presence of nocturnal stools, weight loss, the introduction of a new drug, and the presence of a known autoimmune disease increase the probability of MC and thus the indication for colonoscopy with biopsies.

Microscopic colitis related to food supplement containing turmeric: a review of 3 cases.

Microscopic colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon characterized by microscopic changes in the intestinal lining. Turmeric, a commonly used spice, is generally regarded as beneficial for digestive and articular health thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. No cases of microscopic colitis under a food supplement containing turmeric has been previously described in the literature. This article highlights 3 cases where the consumption of a specific turmeric-based supplement caused microscopic colitis. Each of them complained about profuse watery diarrhea shortly after initiating the food supplement containing turmeric. Ileo-colonoscopies with biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of microscopic colitis, with two cases classified as lymphocytic colitis and the third as collagenous colitis. Following the discontinuation of the supplement, all patients experienced a resolution of their symptoms within a few days. Subsequent control biopsies for the three patients confirmed the resolution of microscopic colitis.

Clinical Implications of Microscopic Colitis Isolated to Polyps.

Microscopic colitis is generally identified on random colon biopsies performed for chronic diarrhea, but rarely incidental polyps have histologic features of microscopic colitis. We compared patients with polypoid microscopic colitis to control patients with conventional polyps to determine the implications of polypoid microscopic colitis.Medical records were searched for patients without prior or concurrent microscopic colitis who were found to have polypoid microscopic colitis. For each patient with polypoid microscopic colitis, one patient with conventional polyps was selected as a control. We reviewed the histologic features of each polypoid microscopic colitis specimen, and evaluated endoscopic and clinical findings for polypoid microscopic colitis patients and controls.Twenty-six patients with polypoid microscopic colitis were identified with histologic features of collagenous colitis in 8 patients (31%) and lymphocytic colitis in 18 patients (69%). Polypoid microscopic colitis was unifocal in 14 patients (54%) and multifocal in 12 patients (46%). Patients with polypoid microscopic colitis were older than control patients (median age = 60 years vs 66 years, P = .04). On follow-up 7 patients with polypoid microscopic colitis (33%) developed chronic diarrhea compared to 3 (12%) controls (P = .16). Of patients with follow-up biopsies, 1 patient with polypoid microscopic colitis (13%) and no control patients developed microscopic colitis (P = 1).Polypoid microscopic colitis may be identified in asymptomatic patients and most patients do not develop chronic diarrhea, but some patients with polypoid microscopic colitis develop diarrhea (33% vs 12% in controls) or conventional microscopic colitis on follow-up. Thus pathologists should distinguish polypoid microscopic colitis from conventional microscopic colitis but may inform clinicians of the uncertain association with chronic diarrhea to guide decisions regarding follow-up.

Low prevalence of 'classical' microscopic colitis but evidence of microscopic inflammation in Asian irritable bowel syndrome patients with diarrhoea.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence for the role of microscopic inflammation in patients with IBS. We aimed to examine the prevalence of microscopic colitis and inflammation in Malaysian IBS patients with diarrhoea (IBS-D). METHODS: Consecutive patients who met the Rome III criteria for IBS-D and asymptomatic controls were prospectively recruited. Colonoscopy was performed in all study subjects and systematic biopsies taken from all segments of the colon. The diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis was made using previously defined criteria. Patients with post infectious IBS were excluded. RESULTS: 120 subjects (74 IBS-D, 46 controls) were recruited during the study period. In the IBS-D group, the colonoscopic (macroscopic) findings were as follows; normal findings n = 58 (78.4%), diverticula disease n = 5 (6.8%), diminutive polyps n = 9 (12.2%) and haemorrhoids n = 2(2.7%). No subject under the age of 40 had any significant findings. Microscopically, there was only one case (1.3%) with histology consistent with collagenous colitis. However, the IBS-D patients had a higher prevalence of moderate microscopic inflammation (n = 11, 14.9%) compared to controls (n = 1, 2.2%) (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: 'Classical' microscopic colitis is uncommon in Malaysian patients with IBS-D but a significant number of adults showed evidence of microscopic inflammation.

Microscopic colitis in children with chronic diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to study microscopic colitis (MC) in children with special reference to its role in chronic diarrhea and changes in mucosal biopsies. METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive children ages 3 to 12 years, with nonbloody diarrhea (passage of ≥3 loose stools per day) of >12 weeks' duration were screened and 26 were enrolled in the study in which no specific etiology could be found and colonoscopy did not reveal any mucosal abnormality. Colonic biopsies were evaluated for the presence of lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis and those with the characteristic changes were defined to have MC (group A). Colonic biopsies from patients with MC were compared with biopsies from patients with chronic diarrhea but no evidence of MC (group B). One hundred children ages 3 to 12 years with bleeding per rectum were screened and colonic biopsies from 45 patients (group C) who had colonic mucosal changes but no vascular or polyp lesion were compared with patients with MC. RESULTS: Of the 26 patients with chronic diarrhea, MC was found in 5 (3 lymphocytic colitis and 2 collagenous colitis). Significantly higher polymorphonuclear infiltration was seen in group A as compared with group B (13.8 [5.4-20.6] vs 7.2 [0-19.6]; P = 0.03) or group C (13.8 [5.4-20.6] vs 4 [0-13.4]; P = 0.007). Intraepithelial lymphocytes (12 [4-32] vs 4 [0-24]; P = 0.008) and basement membrane thickening (3.5 [2.9-10.6] vs 2.5 [1.6-5.86]; P = 0.008) were also significantly higher in group A as compared with group C. CONCLUSIONS: MC was found to be present in children with nonbloody chronic diarrhea in children. Further multicentric studies may provide adequate data on its prevalence.

[Eosinophilic and lymphocytic colitis: different histological manifestations of a same process in patients with chronic diarrhea]. / Colitis eosinofílica y colitis linfocítica: ¿diferentes manifestaciones histológicas de un mismo proceso en pacientescon diarrea crónica?

OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the prevalence of increased number of eosinophils in colonic mucosa of patients with lymphocytic colitis (LC). 2) To determine the coexistence of eosinophilic colitis (EC) in patients with lymphocytic colitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: slides of adult patients with cronic diarrhea with diagnosis of LC were reviewed between October 2009 and March 2012. The number of eosinophils was quantified. RESULTS: Sixty eight patients with LC were included. Elevated eosinophils were found in 76.5 and in 51.4% a diagnosis of EC was established. CONCLUSION: 3 out of 4 patients with LC had elevated eosinophils and 1 of 2 patients with LC had criteria for EC.

[Microscopic colitis]. / Mikroskopické zánety tlustého streva.

Microscopic colitis is characterized by chronic or intermittent watery diarrhoea. Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic diarrhoea in predominantly older adults. The underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of microscopic colitis remains unspecified. Microscopic colitis including colitis collagenous, lymphocytic, microscopic colitis with incomplete findings, minimal change colitis, eosinophilic colitis, Brainerd´s diarrhoea, graft-versus-host disease, mastocytic enterocolitis and postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome. Careful consideration of the clinical features and colonic mucosal biopsies usually lead to correct diagnosis. Treatments of microscopic colitis were based primarily on case reports and personal experience. Many medications have been proposed that either offer symptomatic relief (loperamide, cholestyramine) or had anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive properties (aminosalicylates, steroids, adalimumab, azathioprine).

What do we know today about drug-induced microscopic colitis? A case of lymphocytic colitis on olmesartan.

Microscopic colitis is part of the differential diagnosis of chronic watery diarrhea. Colonoscopy discloses a normal looking mucosa, therefore its diagnosis is based on histology of colonic biopsies. Two main phenotypes are distinguished: collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. A third entity, incomplete microscopic colitis or unspecified microscopic colitis has been reported in the literature. It affects preferentially women over 60 years of age and its association with certain drugs is increasingly established. In case of suspected drug-induced microscopic colitis, identification of the responsible drug is a key to management. After discontinuation of the suspected drug, the gold standard of treatment is budesonide both for induction and for maintenance in case of clinical relapse, as is often the case after discontinuation. Therapy with immunomodulators, biologics, or surgery is reserved for refractory forms of microscopic colitis after multidisciplinary consultation. Through the clinical case of colitis on olmesartan, we will review the latest recommendations on drug-induced microscopic colitis.

Frequency And Risk Factors Of Microscopic Colitis As A Cause Of Chronic Watery Diarrhoea.

BACKGROUND: Microscopic colitis (MC) is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions leading to chronic watery diarrhoea in patients worldwide. This is the first study of this kind in Pakistan and we aimed to calculate the frequency as well as study the risk factors behind the disease. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. A total of 58 participants with chronic watery diarrhoea who had normal colonoscopy were recruited for the study and biopsies were obtained for diagnosing MC. RESULTS: 2 participants out of 58 (3.4%) had biopsy proven microscopic colitis; one patient had a lymphocytic colitis variant and the other had a collagenous colitis variant. The average score based on the MC scoring system was 7.53 in the entire study group. The patient with lymphocytic colitis had a score of 06 while the patient with collagenous colitis had a score of 8. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of microscopic colitis was found to be 3.4% of all cases of chronic watery diarrhoea. A link between MC and autoimmune diseases was also observed. However, we had a limited sample size and encouraged future studies to employ a larger sample size to get a multifaceted look at the disease process.

The various faces of autoimmune endocrinopathies: non-tumoral hypergastrinemia in a patient with lymphocytic colitis and chronic autoimmune gastritis.

Serum gastrin levels exceeding 1000pg/ml (normal, <100) usually raise the suspicion for a neuroendocrine tumor (NET) that secretes gastrin. Rarely, such elevated gastrin levels are seen in patients with pernicious anemia which most commonly is associated with autoimmune gastritis (AG). AG can occur concomitantly with other autoimmune disorders including lymphocytic colitis (LC). Gastrin stimulates enterochromaffin-like cells which increase histamine secretion. Histamine excess can cause diarrhea as can bacterial overgrowth or LC. We present a 57-year-old woman with diarrhea, sporadic epigastric pain, and bloating. She also had a history of interstitial cystitis and took pentosan polysulfate and cetirizine. She had no history of ulcers, renal impairment or carcinoid syndrome. Fasting serum gastrin was 1846pg/ml. Esophagoduodenal gastroscopy and biopsies revealed chronic gastritis and a pH of 7 with low stomach acid. Serum gastrin and plasma chromogranin A were suggestive of a gastrinoma or NET. Pernicious anemia was unlikely. Imaging studies did not reveal any tumor. Random colonic biopsy was compatible with LC, possibly explaining her diarrhea, although we also considered excessive histamine from elevated gastrin, bacterial overgrowth, and pentosan polysulfate which can cause diarrhea and be misleading in this setting, pointing to the diagnosis of gastrinoma. At 4year follow-up in 2012, fasting serum gastrin was 1097pg/ml and the patient asymptomatic taking only cetirizine for nasal allergies. This case illustrates that diarrhea may be associated with very high serum gastrin levels in the setting of chronic gastritis, LC, and interstitial cystitis (pentosan use), without clear evidence for a gastrinoma or NET. If no history of ulcers or liver metastases is present in such cases, watchful observation rather than an extensive/invasive and costly search for a NET may be justified. Considering the various forms of polyglandular syndrome, this may represent a variant and we here provide an algorithm for working up such patients, while also reviewing literature on the intertwined relationship between the immune and endocrine systems.

Is mastocytic colitis a specific clinical-pathological entity?

The number of intestinal mast cells (MC) is increased in several types of colitis, but the mucosa of patients with chronic non-bloody diarrhea has not been studied. The current study sought to determine the relationship between MC counts and degranulation and the severity of symptoms in patients with chronic loose stools. Following a negative laboratory workup for the most common causes of chronic diarrhea, patients with chronic non-bloody loose stools were included in the study. Patients with macroscopic evidence of inflammation or organic disease were excluded after endoscopy with biopsies. Biopsies from the 179 patients in the study were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and anti-CD117 c-kit antibodies. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the degree of MC degranulation. Out of the 179 patients, 128 had normal histologic findings suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome and were used as controls. Twenty-four presented with abnormally high MC counts (≥40 MC x HPF), 23 with ≥20 intraepithelial lymphocytes x HPF suggesting lymphocytic colitis, and 4 had both (≥40 MC and ≥20 intraepithelial lymphocytes x HPF). In the patients with high MC counts, figures were significantly higher in the right colon versus the left colon (p=0.016), but degranulation did not differ in the right versus the left colon (p=0.125). No age or sex-related difference was observed (p=0.527 and p=0.859 respectively). The prevalence of abdominal pain and bloating did not differ in the three groups (p=0.959 and p=0.140, respectively). Patients with lymphocytic colitis (p=0.008) and those with high MC counts (p=0.025) had significantly higher evacuation rates compared to controls. There was no difference between these two groups (p=0.831). Mast cell degranulation was not associated with the number of evacuations, abdominal pain, or bloating (p=0.51; p=0.41; p=0.42, respectively). The finding that a significantly higher number of evacuations was linked to increased MC in the colonic mucosa of a subset of patients with otherwise normal laboratory and endoscopic findings suggests that "mastocytic colitis" may be a new clinical-pathological entity responsible for chronic non-bloody diarrhea. Prospective studies with a larger number of patients, as well as endoscopic and histological follow-up, are needed to confirm this hypothesis.