bismuth-subsalicylate and Inflammatory-Bowel-Diseases

Diarrhea is a common clinical feature of inflammatory bowel diseases and may be accompanied by abdominal pain, urgency, and fecal incontinence. The pathophysiology of diarrhea in these diseases is complex, but defective absorption of salt and water by the inflamed bowel is the most important mechanism involved. In addition to inflammation secondary to the disease, diarrhea may arise from a variety of other conditions. It is important to differentiate the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in the diarrhea in the individual patient to provide the appropriate therapy. This article reviews microscopic colitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease, focusing on diarrhea.

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antidiarrheals; Bacterial Infections; Biopsy; Bismuth; Blood Cell Count; Blood Chemical Analysis; Body Water; Breath Tests; Budesonide; Cholestyramine Resin; Colitis, Microscopic; Diarrhea; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Feces; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Fistula; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Ion Transport; Malabsorption Syndromes; Medical History Taking; Mesalamine; Organometallic Compounds; Physical Examination; Postoperative Complications; Prednisolone; Salicylates; Sodium; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Microscopic colitis is a syndrome consisting of chronic watery diarrhea, a normal or near-normal gross appearance of the colonic lining, and a specific histological picture described as either lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis. Since its initial descriptions a quarter of a century ago, microscopic colitis has become a frequent diagnosis in patients with chronic diarrhea. Understanding of the cause and pathogenesis of microscopic colitis remain incomplete, but potentially important clues have been discovered that shed light on predisposing factors. In particular, specific HLA-DQ genotypes may be permissive for the development of microscopic colitis, and suggest a linkage to the pathogenesis of celiac sprue. Although the differential diagnosis of chronic watery diarrhea is broad, the diagnosis of microscopic colitis is straightforward, involving endoscopic inspection of the colonic mucosa and proper pathologic interpretation of biopsy specimens. As the limitations of drugs ordinarily used for other forms of inflammatory bowel disease are being recognized, new approaches, such as the use of bismuth subsalicylate, are being evaluated. The prognosis of patients with microscopic colitis syndrome remains good, and symptomatic improvement can be expected in most patients.

Topics: Adult; Bismuth; Chronic Disease; Colitis; Colonoscopy; Diagnosis, Differential; Diarrhea; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Organometallic Compounds; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Prognosis; Salicylates; Vipoma