Risk factors

Risk factors for microscopic colitis include:

• Age. Microscopic colitis is most common in people ages 50 to 70.
• Sex. Women are more likely to have microscopic colitis than are men. Some studies suggest an association between post-menopausal hormone therapy and microscopic colitis.
• Autoimmune disease. People with microscopic colitis sometimes also have an autoimmune disorder, such as celiac disease, thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes or psoriasis.
• Genetic link. Research suggests that there may be a connection between microscopic colitis and a family history of irritable bowel syndrome.
• Smoking. Recent research studies have shown an association between tobacco smoking and microscopic colitis, especially in people ages 16 to 44.

Some research studies indicate that using certain medications may increase your risk of microscopic colitis. But not all studies agree.

Medications that may be linked to the condition include:

• Pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve)
• Proton pump inhibitors including lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), omeprazole (Prilosec) and dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline (Zoloft)
• Acarbose (Precose)
• Flutamide
• Ranitidine
• Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol)
• Clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo)
• Entacapone (Comtan)
• Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
• Simvastatin (Zocor)
• Topiramate