Reviewer's report
Title:Mucosal atrophy in collagenous colitis: A case report
Version: 1Date:30 January 2011
Reviewer: Magnus Ström
Reviewer's report:
This report calls attention to an interesting suspicion of possible development of
atrophy with time in collagenous colitis.
There are however some major objections:
a) An accepted definition of atrophy of the colonic mucosa (preferably
international) should be referred to and used.
b) The histological examination of the specimens should be blindly re-analysed
(six different biopsies from three colonoscopies makes at least 18 slides). Not
only the collagen band thickening should be tabulated but also other variables
indicating grade of inflammation and possible atrophy according to an accepted
definition of atrophy.
Minor point of view:
In the report of Otegbayo et al 2001 the word atrophy is mentioned in the text
without further description and their figure does not seem to support the choice of
that word. If, according to a+b above, this report can show a development of
atrophy in the mucosa I think that the authors can assert they are the first to
report this.
The authors claim they have excluded Crohn´s disease. It would be nice with
further details how this was done including a paragraph in the discussion on the
possibility of any relationship (see Geboes K. Gastroenterol Clin Biol
2008;32:689-94).
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests' below
Reviewer's report
Title:Mucosal atrophy in collagenous colitis: A case report
Version: 1Date:30 January 2011
Reviewer: Magnus Ström
Reviewer's report:
This report calls attention to an interesting suspicion of possible development of
atrophy with time in collagenous colitis.
There are however some major objections:
a) An accepted definition of atrophy of the colonic mucosa (preferably
international) should be referred to and used.
b) The histological examination of the specimens should be blindly re-analysed
(six different biopsies from three colonoscopies makes at least 18 slides). Not
only the collagen band thickening should be tabulated but also other variables
indicating grade of inflammation and possible atrophy according to an accepted
definition of atrophy.
Minor point of view:
In the report of Otegbayo et al 2001 the word atrophy is mentioned in the text
without further description and their figure does not seem to support the choice of
that word. If, according to a+b above, this report can show a development of
atrophy in the mucosa I think that the authors can assert they are the first to
report this.
The authors claim they have excluded Crohn´s disease. It would be nice with
further details how this was done including a paragraph in the discussion on the
possibility of any relationship (see Geboes K. Gastroenterol Clin Biol
2008;32:689-94).
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests' below
Please review this paper.
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Reviewer's report
Title:Mucosal atrophy in collagenous colitis: A case report
Version: 1Date:30 January 2011
Reviewer: Magnus Ström
Reviewer's report:
This report calls attention to an interesting suspicion of possible development of
atrophy with time in collagenous colitis.
There are however some major objections:
a) An accepted definition of atrophy of the colonic mucosa (preferably
international) should be referred to and used.
b) The histological examination of the specimens should be blindly re-analysed
(six different biopsies from three colonoscopies makes at least 18 slides). Not
only the collagen band thickening should be tabulated but also other variables
indicating grade of inflammation and possible atrophy according to an accepted
definition of atrophy.
Minor point of view:
In the report of Otegbayo et al 2001 the word atrophy is mentioned in the text
without further description and their figure does not seem to support the choice of
that word. If, according to a+b above, this report can show a development of
atrophy in the mucosa I think that the authors can assert they are the first to
report this.
The authors claim they have excluded Crohn´s disease. It would be nice with
further details how this was done including a paragraph in the discussion on the
possibility of any relationship (see Geboes K. Gastroenterol Clin Biol
2008;32:689-94).
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests' below
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