acute self-limited colitis
acute self-limited colitis
Transient colonic inflammation with features that overlap idiopathic bowel disease, which presents with bloody diarrhoea and resolves usually within 2–4 weeks without residual inflammation or recurrent symptoms. It is a diagnosis of exclusion—i.e., the absence of histologic criteria for diagnosing IBD. ASLC is presumed to have an infectious aetiology—in 50% of cases a specific pathogen is identified; bacterial pathogens include: Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella species E coli O157:H7, as well as viruses and parasites (e.g., Giardia).DiffDx
Diversion colitis, preparations for scoping—e.g., Fleet’s enema, herbal cleansers.
Histologic criteria, acute self-limited colitis
Acute inflammation generally confined to the lamina propria
• Patchy or diffuse;
• Crypt abscesses may be present;
• Neutrophils in the crypt epithelium.
No chronic changes
• Minimal to no crypt distortion or dropout;
• No to only mild chronic inflammation of the lamina propria;
• Severe cases may be ulcerated, haemorrhagic and have microthrombi.