Anti-Yersinia antibodies are not associated with microscopic colitis in an American case-control study

Abstract

Background. Microscopic colitis (MC), which consists of lymphocytic colitis and collagenous colitis, may be triggered by gastrointestinal infections. Studies have suggested a relationship between MC and Yersinia enterocolitica infection. We tested this hypothesis in a case-control study of American patients with MC. Methods. Serum was collected from 47 patients with MC and 44 age- and gender-matched healthy controls at a large referral center in the mid-western United States. Anti-IgA and IgG antibodies to Y. enterocolitica were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fisher's exact test was used to assess statistical significance. Results. There were no differences between the two groups for seroprevalence of anti-Yersinia IgA (cases 2.1%, controls 2.3%, p = 1.00) or IgG antibodies (cases 4.3%, controls 6.8%, p = 0.67). There was no correlation between antibody titers and duration of MC diagnosis. Conclusion. Our data do not support the role of exposure to Y. enterocolitica in an American group of patients with MC.

Key Words::

• collagenous colitis
• environmental risk factors
• epidemiology
• infectious agents in IBD
• lymphocytic colitis
• serologic markers/testing

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.