A drug-induced microscopic colitis in an older woman: a case report

Abstract

We presented a case of a 87-year-old woman hospitalized for chronic watery diarrhea, affected by multimorbidities. After excluding other causes of diarrhea by biohumoral and microbiological tests, endoscopy was performed without revealing any macroscopic abnormalities, but, at histological examination of random biopsies, the characteristic features of collagenous colitis were found. Lansoprazolo and sertraline, chronically taken by the patient, was discontinued, and budesonide was started with prompt clinical improvement. Collagenous colitis is a rare cause of chronic diarrhea in advanced age, but it should be suspected in patients with polypharmacotherapy, after an accurate differential diagnosis.