Prevalence of microscopic colitis in Upper Egypt among patients with chronic diarrhea and patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of microscopic colitis (MC) in patients with chronic watery diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome–diarrhea (IBS-D) predominant. Patients and methods We studied 61 patients with chronic nonbloody diarrhea and normal endoscopic findings prospectively for 2 years' duration; 37 patients had chronic watery diarrhea for investigation and 24 had IBS-D predominant. Results Our results showed that 18 (29.5%) patients had MC, 10 (16.4%) patients had collagenous colitis, and eight (13.1%) had lymphocytic colitis. Four (16.7%) patients out of the 24 patients with IBS-D predominant had MC. Abdominal pain, nocturnal diarrhea, and weight loss are the most common clinical presentation in MC. Conclusion MC is not uncommon in Upper Egypt patients with chronic watery diarrhea and normal colonoscopic findings. Biopsy of normal colonic mucosa in patients with chronic watery diarrhea is emphasized to reach to definite diagnosis of MC.