P1186 Unveiling the reality of Collagenous colitis: Beyond its Benign Façade

Abstract

Abstract Background Microscopic colitis is a cause of chronic watery, non-bloody diarrhoea diagnosed mainly on histology after taking biopsy from essentially normal colonoscopy. Thereby mainly two subtypes can be identified: Lymphocytic and collagenous colitis. So far, no biomarkers for the diagnosis of microscopic colitis have been identified. Hower, despite being benign nature of this disease .it often trigger Two weeks wait (cancer path way) of the in the UK. Methods In this study, we analysed all cases of collagenous colitis diagnosed from 2018-2022 in the Northeast London from 5 different teaching hospitals. 104 cases were identified and their electronic health record from hospital and from the primary care physicians (GP) were manually reviewed. Results In this cohort, 24% male, 76% female with ratio of (1:3), with mean age of 65 years. Forty percent were active or ex-smoker. Painless watery diarrhoea was the main cause for referral in 90% of cases, 7% had painless bloody diarrhoea, whilst 3% complaint painful bloody diarrhoea. Abdominal pain noted in only 39% cases. Thirty-five (35%) cases noted to have history of weight loss. Among these patients, 27% had Haemoglobin < 130g/L, including 7% had <105g/L. Twenty nine percent had Faecal calprotectin (FCP) > 50 microgram/gm of stool and 14% had FCP >200. Seventeen percent had serum inflammatory marker raised CRP (normal 0-10). Thirteen percent (13%) of these patient trigger two weeks pathway referral as they had positive Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) which used for bowel cancer screening test, Twenty-seven (27%) presents did not require any treatment, got better after stopping suspected medication as a cause, while 73 % require treatment, of whom 5% require treatment with immunomodulator/ Biologics. Conclusion In this large series of collagenous colitis, we found that, despite being benign condition, it can present with alarming features which both health care provider and patient should be aware of, in order to avoid unnecessary anxiety. Further studies are needed to identify biomarker of this condition.