Colitis, Collagenous
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Colitis, Collagenous is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Collagenous colitis is a rare digestive disorder that primarily affects females and typically becomes apparent during middle age. The disorder is characterized by inflammatory changes of the mucous membranes (mucosa) of the colon (colitis) and abnormal accumulation (excessive deposition) of the protein collagen beneath the surface (epithelial) layer of the mucosa (thickened subepithelial collagenous bands). The colon is the major portion of the large intestine. The medical literature often refers to collagenous colitis as a form of "microscopic colitis," since evidence of inflammation and other abnormalities may only be confirmed through microscopic (i.e., histologic) examination of multiple tissue samples.
Individuals with collagenous colitis typically experience episodes of chronic, watery, nonbloody diarrhea. In some instances, episodes may often occur at night (nocturnal diarrhea). Diarrheal episodes may be persistent or may occur at intervals (intermittent) over a period of weeks, months, or years. Other symptoms and findings that may occasionally be associated with such episodes include vague abdominal pain, abdominal swelling (distension), nausea, vomiting, and/or weight loss.
The exact cause of collagenous colitis is unknown. Possible immunological, environmental, genetic, and/or other factors are under investigation as potential causes of the disorder.
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
386 Park Avenue South
17th Floor
New York, NY 10016-7374
USA
Tel: (212)685-3440
Fax: (212)779-4098
Tel: (800)932-2423
Email: info@ccfa.org
Internet: http://www.ccfa.org
Digestive Disease National Coalition
507 Capitol Court, NE
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20002
Tel: (202)544-7497
Fax: (202)546-7105
Email: ddnc@hmcw.org
Internet: http://www.ddnc.org
NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Office of Communications & Public Liaison
Bldg 31, Rm 9A06
31 Center Drive, MSC 2560
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
Tel: (301)496-3583
Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
700 W. Virginia St., 201
Milwaukee, WI 53217
USA
Tel: (414)964-1799
Fax: (414)964-7176
Tel: (888)964-2001
Email: iffgd@iffgd.org
Internet: http://www.iffgd.org
Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation
70 East Lake Street
Suite 1015
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: (312)332-1350
Fax: (312)332-4757
Email: info@girf.org
Internet: http://www.girf.org
Reach Out for Youth with Ileitis and Colitis, Inc.
PO Box 857
Bellmore, NY 11710
USA
Tel: (631)293-3102
Email: info@reachoutforyouth.org
Internet: http://www.reachoutforyouth.org
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
CORE
3 St. Andrews Place
London, NW1 4LB
United Kingdom
Tel: 02074860341
Fax: 02072242012
Email: info@corecharity.org.uk
Internet: http://www.corecharity.org.uk
It is possible that the main title of the report Colitis, Collagenous is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Synonyms
- Microscopic Colitis, Collagenous Type
Disorder Subdivisions
- None
General Discussion
Collagenous colitis is a rare digestive disorder that primarily affects females and typically becomes apparent during middle age. The disorder is characterized by inflammatory changes of the mucous membranes (mucosa) of the colon (colitis) and abnormal accumulation (excessive deposition) of the protein collagen beneath the surface (epithelial) layer of the mucosa (thickened subepithelial collagenous bands). The colon is the major portion of the large intestine. The medical literature often refers to collagenous colitis as a form of "microscopic colitis," since evidence of inflammation and other abnormalities may only be confirmed through microscopic (i.e., histologic) examination of multiple tissue samples.
Individuals with collagenous colitis typically experience episodes of chronic, watery, nonbloody diarrhea. In some instances, episodes may often occur at night (nocturnal diarrhea). Diarrheal episodes may be persistent or may occur at intervals (intermittent) over a period of weeks, months, or years. Other symptoms and findings that may occasionally be associated with such episodes include vague abdominal pain, abdominal swelling (distension), nausea, vomiting, and/or weight loss.
The exact cause of collagenous colitis is unknown. Possible immunological, environmental, genetic, and/or other factors are under investigation as potential causes of the disorder.
Resources
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
386 Park Avenue South
17th Floor
New York, NY 10016-7374
USA
Tel: (212)685-3440
Fax: (212)779-4098
Tel: (800)932-2423
Email: info@ccfa.org
Internet: http://www.ccfa.org
Digestive Disease National Coalition
507 Capitol Court, NE
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20002
Tel: (202)544-7497
Fax: (202)546-7105
Email: ddnc@hmcw.org
Internet: http://www.ddnc.org
NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
Office of Communications & Public Liaison
Bldg 31, Rm 9A06
31 Center Drive, MSC 2560
Bethesda, MD 20892-2560
Tel: (301)496-3583
Email: NDDIC@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
700 W. Virginia St., 201
Milwaukee, WI 53217
USA
Tel: (414)964-1799
Fax: (414)964-7176
Tel: (888)964-2001
Email: iffgd@iffgd.org
Internet: http://www.iffgd.org
Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation
70 East Lake Street
Suite 1015
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: (312)332-1350
Fax: (312)332-4757
Email: info@girf.org
Internet: http://www.girf.org
Reach Out for Youth with Ileitis and Colitis, Inc.
PO Box 857
Bellmore, NY 11710
USA
Tel: (631)293-3102
Email: info@reachoutforyouth.org
Internet: http://www.reachoutforyouth.org
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
TDD: (888)205-3223
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
CORE
3 St. Andrews Place
London, NW1 4LB
United Kingdom
Tel: 02074860341
Fax: 02072242012
Email: info@corecharity.org.uk
Internet: http://www.corecharity.org.uk