Journal of clinical gastroenterology
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J. Clin. Gastroenterol. · Sep 1997
Colonic disease associated with a positive assay for Clostridium difficile toxin: a retrospective study.
In this retrospective review of colonic tissue from 21 patients with a positive stool assay for Clostridium difficile toxin, four groups of patients were identified by pathologic examination. Classic pseudomembranous colitis was identified in 38% of patients in colon biopsies, resections, and at postmortem examination. ⋯ In 19% of patients, no acute or chronic colitis or pseudomembranous colitis was noted. This report reminds gastroenterologists that C. difficile infection is associated with a range of pathologic changes similar to the well known clinical spectrum of disease.