Collagenous Colitis and Yersinia enterocolitica Infection

Collagenous colitis is a rare clinical andpathological entity characterized by watery diarrhea anddeposition of collagen beneath the surface epithelium ofthe colon. Its etiology is unknown. We present a careful retrospective clinicopathologicalanalysis of six patients with collagenous colitisdiagnosed at our hospital during a three-year period.Three of the patients had had a Yersinia enterocolitica infection, detected by stool culture andelevated serum antibody titers, preceding the diagnosisof collagenous colitis. Four patients had duodenalvillous atrophy, which in two patients was refractory to a gluten-free diet. We propose that Yersiniaenterocolitica infection may be a triggering factor forthe development of collagenous colitis in some cases.Duodenal villous atrophy not responding to gluten withdrawal is common in association withcollagenous colitis.