Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a board-certified gastroenterologist and the founder of GastroDoxs. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
Collagenous colitis is a type of microscopic colitis that causes chronic, watery diarrhea. Under a microscope, a pathologist can see a thick layer of collagen (a structural protein) just beneath the lining of the colon. Standard colonoscopy often appears normal, so tissue biopsy is needed for diagnosis.
He examines your diarrhea history (urgency, frequency, pattern, etc.), any abdominal or epigastric pain, the use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or serotonin-doting inhibitors, smoking history, and autoimmune comorbidities.
We take the blood to test it on anemia or inflammation (CBC, CRP) and take the stool to eliminate infections, parasites, and other inflammatory bowel diseases.
As an ultrasound image UK, Dr. Pothuri can make a request to rule out small-bowel pathology as a cause of chronic diarrhea or upper-abdominal pain through cross-sectional imaging (CT or MRI enterography), or capsule endoscopy (rare).
Dr. Pothuri has treated more than 1.5K patients, helping individuals improve their digestive health and overall well-being through expert, personalized care.
With over 20 years of experience, GastroDoxs has been a trusted provider of gastroenterology care, focusing on delivering the best outcomes for patients
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
Collagenous colitis is a type of microscopic colitis which leads to chronic and watery diarrhea and on a microscope the view shows a thick band of collagen below the colon lining.
Its precise etiology remains unclear, but it is likely to be triggered by age above 50 years, some drugs (nonsteroidal antiplatelet drugs, some antidepressants), autoimmune diseases, smoking history, and women.
Limit or avoid caffeine, carbonated products, high-fat and fried foods, sugar alternatives (sorbitol, mannitol), and dairy, in case you are lactose intolerant.
A diagnosis needs a colonoscopy biopsy. To identify the characteristic thick deposit of collagen below the lining of the colon, a sample of the pathologist is taken on the tissue.
A diet possibly with some changes, anti-diarrheal drugs (such as loperamide), budesonide (targeted steroid) and bile acid binders (cholestyramine) can all be used as treatment. In extreme instances, endoscopy therapy may be needed.
Dietary modifications can assist most of the patients, however, some require either medication or comparatively less invasive treatment to be effective at curbing the symptoms.
