Are collagenous and lymphocytic colitis different aspects of the same disease?

Objective. Collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC) are two subtypes of microscopic colitis (MC). Even though they most often are described as different entities they share many clinical and histological features. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of conversion between CC and LC in a larger cohort of patients. Materials and methods. All 664 patients in our Pathology register with a diagnosis of CC and LC were scrutinized and those where additional endoscopies had been carried out were included, and their biopsies were re-examined. Results. Sixty-five patients (55 women, 10 men, median age 58 years; range 29-86) fulfilled our criteria for inclusion. The primary diagnosis was CC in 47 patients (39 women, 8 men, median age 58 years; range 29-86) and LC in 18 patients (16 women, 2 men, median age 58 years; range 33-74). Conversion occurred in nine of the 65 patients (14%, all women, median age 59 years; range 41-72), three from CC to LC and six from LC to CC. Conclusion. This study has found that patients can show histological features consistent with both CC and LC over time. These patients could represent a subgroup with a true conversion between two separate entities. Alternatively, MC could be a spectral disease where the varying histological features are manifestations of the natural fluctuation. A third possibility could be that the histological changes reflect different manifestations during the disease course and consequently, the diagnostic criteria could be too vague

The Lactobacillus flora in vagina and rectum of fertile and postmenopausal healthy Swedish women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Lactobacillus </it>species are the most often found inhabitants of vaginal ecosystem of fertile women. In postmenopausal women with low oestrogen levels, <it>Lactobacillus </it>flora is diminishing or absent. However, no studies have been performed to investigate the correlation between oestrogen levels and the lactobacilli in the gut. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation in healthy women between vaginal and rectal microbial flora as well as possible variations with hormone levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Vaginal and rectal smears were taken from 20 healthy fertile women, average 40 years (range 28-49 years), in two different phases of the menstrual cycle, and from 20 postmenopausal women, average 60 years (range 52-85 years). Serum sex hormone levels were analyzed. Bacteria from the smears isolated on Rogosa Agar were grouped by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA and identified by multiplex PCR and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Lactobacillus crispatus </it>was more often found in the vaginal flora of fertile women than in that of postmenopausal (p = 0.036). Fifteen of 20 fertile women had lactobacilli in their rectal smears compared to 10 postmenopausal women (p = 0.071). There was no correlation between the number of bacteria in vagina and rectum, or between the number of bacteria and hormonal levels. Neither could any association between the presence of rectal lactobacilli and hormonal levels be found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Lactobacillus crispatus </it>was more prevalent in the vaginal flora of fertile women, whereas the <it>Lactobacillus </it>flora of rectum did not correlate to the vaginal flora nor to hormonal levels.</p

Lifestyle Issues in Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Smoking

During the pa t decade, smoking habit has been identified as a major exogenous factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is associated not only with the development of the disease but al o with the clinical course in established disease. IBD combines absolute opposites as smoking is associated with Crohn’s disease and nonsmoking or former smoking with ulcerative colitis. The first reports of a negative association between smoking and ulcerative colitis were based on independent, clinical observations; from those studies a positive association was found between smoking and Crohn’s disease. Epidemiological studies that followed consistently showed that smokers have a reduced risk of ulcerative colitis and an increased risk of Crohn’s disease and that exsmokers have an increased risk of ulcerative colitis. In ulcerative colitis, but not in Crohn’s disease, a dose-response pattern has been demonstrated. Changes in clinical course, in disease severity and extension, and in recurrence rate indicate substantial clinical effects of smoking with a protective effect of smoking in ulcerative colitis and an aggravating effect in Crohn’s disease. There are also indications of smoking’s effects on changes in IBD epidemiology and sex distribution. The biological explanation to the finding is unknown. Smoking may aggravate Crohn’s disease by vascular effects. Theories on the protective effect in ulcerative colitis include effects on immune and inflammatory response, on mucus and on intestinal permeability. Possibly, beneficial effects in ulcerative colitis are exerted by nicotine but further studies are needed. Due to overall negative effects of smoking, IBD patients should not smoke. It seems, however, reasonable to give individual advice in patients with ulcerative colitis who have experienced a beneficial effect of ·making considering both current health status and life situation

Smoking habits in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A case control study.

In a case-control study there were significantly fewer smokers among patients with ulcerative colitis both at disease onset and at interview, the relative risk compared with non-smokers being 0.33 and 0.12, respectively. Among female patients with Crohn's disease there were significantly more smokers, the relative risk being 2.70 and 2.33, respectively. Of the ex-smokers with ulcerative colitis, two-thirds became ill after they stopped smoking, and most of these during the first years after stopping. Neither in ulcerative colitis nor in Crohn's disease could any relation be found between the localization of disease and smoking habits at the time of diagnosis. The findings in the present study support the hypothesis that smoking may influence the course of inflammatory bowel diseas

Does smoking influence the risk of pouchitis following ileal pouch anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis?

Objective. According to epidemiological studies, smoking habit is strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Non-smokers, and especially recent ex-smokers, have an increased risk of ulcerative colitis (UC). Conversely, concerning Crohn's disease, the risk is increased among smokers. Pouchitis is the major long-term complication of restorative proctocolectomy for UC, and seems to be pathogenetically related to this condition. The aims of this study were to test the hypothesis that smoking reduces the risk of pouchitis, and to investigate whether cessation of smoking precedes the onset of the inflammation. Material and methods. All living patients operated on for UC with proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) between November 1982 and November 1996 at Sahlgren's University Hospital were included in the study (n=410). Data concerning smoking habits and pouchitis were obtained from questionnaires and from medical records. The correlation between smoking habits and incidence of pouchitis was statistically evaluated by means of a survival test and a multivariate analysis, i.e. a Poisson model. Results. In all, 327 patients (80%) completed the questionnaires. Ninety-six (29%) of these patients had had at least one episode of pouchitis. Smoking habits during follow-up did not significantly influence the risk of pouchitis (p=0.29). Nor did smoking habits before and at the time of IPAA correlate with the incidence of pouchitis. Women had a decreased risk of pouchitis, compared to men (p=0.014). There was a nonsignificant tendency for smoking to increase the risk, which was more pronounced in women. Conclusions. Smoking does not decrease the risk of pouchitis following IPAA for UC, and in this respect the pathogenetic model of pouchitis, suggested to be a manifestation of UC, is not supported

Enteroskopikapseln- sväljbart engångsinstrument för videoundersökning av tunntarmen

Since 1,5 years wireless enteroscopy with the GivenM2A-capsule has been tested clinically. Wireless capsule-enteroscopy (WCE) has already contributed significantly to the understanding of patients with obscure intestinal symptoms. Series of occult bleeders show that WCE detects lesions in 60%, whereas enterography only in 15%, and push-enteroscopy in 25%. Lesions detected are angiodysplasia in 55%, ulcerations in 14%, aphtoid lesions and erosions in 11%, tumours in 8%. Active bleeding was seen in 43%. In patients with Crohn’s disease further information on extent of disease and type of lesions is gained, mainly seen as erosions in 64%. WCE in hereditary polyposis disclosed more and bigger lesions, and in celiac enteropathy villous atrophy and scalloping of the mucous membrane is readily identified. Software to locate the capsule in the gastrointestinal tract is recently launched together with a graphic display of capsule track and transit times. Soon displays for motility and pressure will follow. Capsule adaptation for screening for Barrett’s esophagus and colon cancer might come true

An epidemiological study of collagenous colitis in southern Sweden from 2001-2010

AIM: To estimate the incidence of collagenous colitis (CC) in southern Sweden during 2001-2010

Mucosa-associated bacteria in two middle-aged women diagnosed with collagenous colitis

AIM: To characterize the colon microbiota in two women histologically diagnosed with collagenous colitis using a culture-independent method