Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile

Although classically pseudomembranous colitis is caused by Clostridium difficile, it can result from several etiologies. Certain medications, chemical injury, collagenous colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemia, and other infectious pathogens can reportedly cause mucosal injury and subsequent...

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Main Authors: Derek M. Tang, Nathalie H. Urrunaga, Hannah De Groot, Erik C. von Rosenvinge, Guofeng Xie, Leyla J. Ghazi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/812704
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author Derek M. Tang
Nathalie H. Urrunaga
Hannah De Groot
Erik C. von Rosenvinge
Guofeng Xie
Leyla J. Ghazi
author_facet Derek M. Tang
Nathalie H. Urrunaga
Hannah De Groot
Erik C. von Rosenvinge
Guofeng Xie
Leyla J. Ghazi
author_sort Derek M. Tang
collection DOAJ
description Although classically pseudomembranous colitis is caused by Clostridium difficile, it can result from several etiologies. Certain medications, chemical injury, collagenous colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemia, and other infectious pathogens can reportedly cause mucosal injury and subsequent pseudomembrane formation. We present the case of a middle-aged woman with vascular disease who was incorrectly diagnosed with refractory C. difficile infection due to the presence of pseudomembranes. Further imaging, endoscopy, and careful histopathology review revealed chronic ischemia as the cause of her pseudomembranous colitis and diarrhea. This case highlights the need for gastroenterologists to consider non-C. difficile etiologies when diagnosing pseudomembranous colitis.
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spelling doaj-art-044d9345e59f42f8b6d1a21e461e752a2025-08-20T03:55:23ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352014-01-01201410.1155/2014/812704812704Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficileDerek M. Tang0Nathalie H. Urrunaga1Hannah De Groot2Erik C. von Rosenvinge3Guofeng Xie4Leyla J. Ghazi5Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USADivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USADivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USADivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USADivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USADivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USAAlthough classically pseudomembranous colitis is caused by Clostridium difficile, it can result from several etiologies. Certain medications, chemical injury, collagenous colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemia, and other infectious pathogens can reportedly cause mucosal injury and subsequent pseudomembrane formation. We present the case of a middle-aged woman with vascular disease who was incorrectly diagnosed with refractory C. difficile infection due to the presence of pseudomembranes. Further imaging, endoscopy, and careful histopathology review revealed chronic ischemia as the cause of her pseudomembranous colitis and diarrhea. This case highlights the need for gastroenterologists to consider non-C. difficile etiologies when diagnosing pseudomembranous colitis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/812704
spellingShingle Derek M. Tang
Nathalie H. Urrunaga
Hannah De Groot
Erik C. von Rosenvinge
Guofeng Xie
Leyla J. Ghazi
Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile
Case Reports in Medicine
title Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile
title_full Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile
title_fullStr Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile
title_full_unstemmed Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile
title_short Pseudomembranous Colitis: Not Always Caused by Clostridium difficile
title_sort pseudomembranous colitis not always caused by clostridium difficile
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/812704
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