Collagenous Colitis

Abstract

Collagenous colitis is characterized clinically by chronic watery diarrhea and pathologically by colonic mucosal subepithelial collagen deposition. We report a 72-year-old woman who had collagenous colitis associated with chronic watery diarrhea. She received a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (sulindac) because of rheumatoid arthritis. Histological examination of biopsy showed a thick subepithelial collagen layer with lymphocytes, plasma cells, and infiltration of a few eosinocytes in the lamina propria. These findings led to the diagnosis of collagenous colitis. After treatment with salazosulfapyridine, her bowel movement became normalized and mucosal subepithelial collagen deposition disappeared. (Internal Medicine 34: 195-198, 1995). © 1995, The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. All rights reserved.