Course of Disease in Patients with Microscopic Colitis: A European Prospective Incident Cohort Study. (12th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verhaegh, Bas P M; Münch, Andreas; Guagnozzi, Danila; Wildt, Signe; Cebula, Wojciech; Diac, Andreea R; Fernández-Bañares, Fernando; Al-Khalaf, Magid A R; Pedersen, Natalia; Kupcinskas, Juozas; Bohr, Johan; Macaigne, Gilles; Lucendo, Alfredo J; Lyutakov, Ivan; Tontini, Gian-Eugenio; Pigò, Flavia; Russo, Evangelos; Hjortswang, Henrik; Miehlke, Stephan; Munck, Lars K
• Is Part Of: Journal of Crohn's and colitis. Volume 15:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1174
• Page End: 1183
• Publication Date: 2021-01-12
• Subjects: Microscopic colitis -- disease course -- prospective cohort study -- disease activity -- prognosis -- treatment; Inflammatory bowel diseases -- Periodicals; 616.344005
• DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1873-9946

Abstract

Abstract: Background and Aims: The disease course of microscopic colitis [MC] is considered chronic but benign. However, this assumption is based on mainly retrospective studies, reporting on incomplete follow-up of selective cohorts. Systematic, prospective and unbiased data to inform patients and healthcare professionals on the expected course of the disease and real-life response to therapy are warranted. Methods: A prospective, pan-European, multi-centre, web-based registry was established. Incident cases of MC were included. Data on patient characteristics, symptoms, treatment and quality of life were systematically registered at baseline and during real-time follow-up. Four disease course phenotypes were discriminated and described. Results: Among 381 cases with complete 1-year follow-up, 49% had a chronic active or relapsing disease course, 40% achieved sustained remission after treatment and 11% had a quiescent course. In general, symptoms and quality of life improved after 3 months of follow-up. A relapsing or chronic active disease course was associated with significantly more symptoms and impaired quality of life after 1 year. Conclusions: A minority of MC patients follow a quiescent disease course with spontaneous clinical improvement, whereas the majority suffer a chronic active or relapsing disease course during the first year after diagnosis, with persisting symptoms accompanied by a significantly impaired quality of life.