DIARRHEA DUE TO INFREQUENT FORMS OF COLIT IS - MICROSCOPIC (LYMPHOCYTIC, COLLAGENOUS) COLITIS AND SPIROCHETOSIS

Lymphocytic and collagenous colitis, uncommon entities that are identi fiable by histopathologic examination only, and intestinal spirochetos is may cause chronic diarrhea. Data on incidence, histopathology, and diseases associated with these infrequent forms of colitis are reviewe d. Etiology and pathogenesis of lymphocytic and collagenous colitis ar e still unknown, but immunoinflammatory factors may be involved in bot h forms as well as, in collagenous colitis, primary disorders of colla gen metabolism or drug-induced toxic effects. The significance of inte stinal colonization by spirochetes is disputed; however, recent result s indicate that these microorganisms are capable of inducing disease.