[Microscopic colitis. A 20 cases serie]

Microscopic colitis are defined as a chronic inflammation of a normal macroscopic colonic mucosa. We report 20 cases of microscopic colitis. Chronic diarrhea revealed the diagnosis in 95% of cases. Endoscopic examination was normal in 95% of patients. We diagnosed collagenous colitis in 65% of cases and lymphocytic colitis in 35% of cases. The treatment was based on sulphasalazine in 16 patients, on 5 aminosalicylic acid in 1 case, on gluen free diet in 2 cases and a symptomatic treatment was prescripted to one patient. A clinical remission was observed in 41.2% of patients taking sulphasalazine

[Cryoglobulinemia in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. About 76 cases]

Cryolobulines are immunoglobulins that persist in the serum, precipitate with cold temperature and resolubilize when rewarmed. There are 3 types of cryoglobulinemia. Type II and III define mixed cryoglobulinemia. 40% approximately of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection had cryoglobulinemia. To evaluate the frequency of cryoglobulinemia in a chronic hepatitis virus [CHV] infection group and determine the characteristics of positive cryoglobulinemia patients. 76 patients were included. There were 53 women and 23 men. The mean age was 59.45 years. Mixed cryoglobulinemia was detected in 65 patients [85.5%]. Cirrhosis, old age and the long duration of CHV infection were the 3 factors associated with cryoglobulinemia positivety Mixed cryoglobulinemia is a frequent manifestation during chronic hepatitis C infection virsus especially in patients with cirrhosis