by Catherine Forse MD FRCPC
January 17, 2024
Collagenous colitis is an inflammatory condition associated with an increased number of immune cells within tissue lining the inside of the colon. The inflammation and subsequent damage prevent the colon from functioning normally. This condition belongs to a group of related conditions called microscopic colitis. This group includes lymphocytic colitis which shares many features with collagenous colitis.
People with collagenous colitis can develop watery diarrhea that can last from weeks to years. Other possible symptoms can include abdominal pain, weight loss, and fatigue.
Doctors still do not know what causes a person to develop collagenous colitis in the first place. However, one theory suggests that it may be an autoimmune condition where immune cells start to attack the cells in the colon. Another theory suggests that the condition may be a reaction to material in fecal matter.
If your doctor suspects collagenous colitis based on your symptoms, they will perform a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a procedure where a small camera is used to see the inside of your colon. During this procedure, your doctor will take tissue samples called biopsies. Because this condition can happen in one part of the colon but not another, they will likely take multiple biopsies from the entire length of the colon. Your pathologist will then examine these biopsies under a microscope to determine whether the changes associated with this condition are present. For most people with collagenous colitis, their colon will look entirely normal during the colonoscopy. That is because this condition is a ‘microscopic’ disease, and its features can only be seen when the tissue is examined under a microscope.
In collagenous colitis, an increased number of specialized immune cells called lymphocytes are seen within the mucosa on the inside of the colon. These lymphocytes are seen both within the glands and the lamina propria. Pathologists describe this change as intraepithelial lymphocytosis. Over time, the increased lymphocytes damage the glands. This damage causes the cells to become smaller. Pathologists call this change atrophy. The smaller cells produce less mucin which prevents the colon from functioning normally.
In addition, an abnormal layer of tissue forms where the epithelial cells connect with the lamina propria. This thick layer of tissue is made up of a specialized protein called collagen (which is why the condition is called “collagenous”) and it looks pink when examined under the microscope. The thick collagen layer traps blood vessels and immune cells near the surface of the epithelium. The extra collagen is believed to be caused by abnormal activity of support cells called myofibroblasts. Some pathologists will perform a special stain called Masson’s trichrome to highlight the collagen band.
While collagenous colitis can cause chronic inflammation in the colon, it is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Importantly, IBD has many features which are not seen in collagenous colitis. For example, the size and shape of the crypts are abnormal. Pathologists call this change crypt distortion. To learn more about the features seen in IBD, read our article on chronic colitis.