MC: is it a spectrum of infammatory bowel disease

[gluten]

Hi, This article is from "World of Gastroenterology July 14, 2013" This answers the question I had about my dx with MC. During my colonoscopy the doctor said that he was going to take biospies from several locations because he noticed some suspicious areas. After researching about MC there would be no suspicious areas and it is only confirmed by biospy. So how long did I have MC and as I suspect it was continously working into UC and or traveling into the small intestines into Crohn's disease. This article plus others confrim my fears. To read this article type in " Microscopic Colitis: is it a spectrum of inflammatory bowel disease" Jon

[Polly]

Jon,

Dr. Fine says that he (and other docs really familiar with MC) can see suspicious areas to biopsy. I believe he feels they have a certain appearance - he indicated this on his website (www.finerhealth.com). He is talking about "suspicious" as being MC - related.

I don't doubt that progression can occur, but it would seem to be quite a rare event. Are there any stats on MC progressing to UC or CD? It is rare here on this Board, as far as I know.

Polly

[tex]

Jon,

I totally agree with Polly. I could even see the inflamed areas in my own colon on the monitor during my colonoscopy, and this is described in my book. Anyone who says that these areas of microscopic inflammation cannot be seen during a colonoscopy exam simply doesn't have the experience nor the training to realize what he or she is seeing through the scope. Here's how I described it:

Having said all that, there does exist one clue that MC might be present, that can be seen through the colonoscope or sigmoidscope by a doctor experienced in diagnosing the disease if he or she remains alert and observant during the exam. This technique can be used to greatly enhance the odds of collecting biopsy samples from productive areas in the colon. Upon close scrutiny, it can be seen that in colons where the markers of microscopic inflammation are present, there will be random areas scattered across the normal light pink background of an otherwise unremarkable colon, that will appear to be a slightly darker shade of pink. These slightly darker pigmented areas are more likely to correlate with areas of inflammation. Taking biopsy samples from them can significantly reduce the chances of failing to properly diagnose the disease when it is present.

This ability to visually identify areas of microscopic inflammation during an exam using a colonoscope or a sigmoidscope was first reported by Dr. Kenneth Fine, a leading researcher of MC and celiac disease. The benefits of utilizing the technique have since been noted by other gastroenterologists. Dr. Fine’s website contains the following comment in his discussion of microscopic colitis.10

And here is reference number 10 from that quote:

10. Fine, K. D., (2000). Frequently asked questions about microscopic colitis. Retrieved from http://www.finerhealth.com/Educational_ ... c_Colitis/\

Basically, we have the same chance of developing UC or Crohn's disease as anyone else in the general population, but we are not necessarily at an increased risk of developing one of them, just because we have MC.

Tex

[harvest_table]

Jon,

That's a pretty compelling article and I concur with your thinking. Were you DX with CC or LC?

Here are a couple other links supporting the question of spectrum/evolving theories
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=8813

and a better link to the article you posted.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3710430/

Also, a recent colonoscopy ten years after my CC DX showed signs of CC during her exam. I was awake and watched a couple of polyps removed and some internal hemorrhoids. Results after 10 years -still have CC.

I requested special staining for mast cells, which she did -all came back negative

Joanna

Code: Select all

[gluten]

Hi Joanna. I was diagnosed with LC on three levels of the colon and I am concerned that it has gone past the valve into the small intestines. I had a endoscopy at the same time and it was negative for celiac disease. But my tests with Entrolab showed gluten antibodies. Jon

[tex]

Jon,

All of us have small intestinal involvement. If we didn't, we couldn't have food sensitivities, leaky, gut, malabsorption, etc. All of that has to occur in the small intestine, because the colon is only capable of absorbing water and electrolytes that are not absorbed in the small intestine. Nothing else can be absorbed in the colon.

As you are probably aware, I no longer have a colon, but the colectomy made absolutely no difference in my sensitivities, reactions, etc. Other members who have had an ileostomy have reported the same results — it made no difference in their sensitivities, reactions, etc.

Tex

[gluten]

Hi Tex, Thank you for your response. Do you have your electrolytes checked when you have a physical? Jon

[tex]

Do you have your electrolytes checked when you have a physical?

Yes, as part of a CBC, and other than a few problems for a few months following the surgery, they always seem to be close to mid-range. The human body is extremely adaptive, and it almost always learns to adapt to whatever conditions are imposed upon it, if it is somehow possible.

Tex