REVIEW   

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2019 March;65(1):42-52

DOI: 10.23736/S1121-421X.18.02525-4

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Diverticulosis today

Walter ELISEI ¹, Giovanni BRANDIMARTE ², Antonio TURSI ³ ✉

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, ASL Roma 6, Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy; ² Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Cristo Re Hospital, Rome, Italy; ³ Service of Gastroenterology, ASL BAT, Andria, Italy

The incidence of diverticulosis and diverticular disease of the colon is increasing worldwide. Although the majority of patients remains asymptomatic long-life, the prevalence of diverticular disease of the colon, including acute diverticulitis, is substantial and is becoming a significant burden on National Health Systems in terms of direct and indirect costs. Fiber, non-absorbable antibiotics and probiotics seem to be effective in treating symptomatic and uncomplicated patients, and 5-aminosalicylic acid might help prevent acute diverticulitis. Unfortunately, robust evidence on the effectiveness of a medical strategy to prevent acute diverticulitis recurrence is still lacking. Focus is now being drawn on identifying a new endoscopic classification of the disease to evaluate the correct therapeutic approach by testing various treatments.

KEY WORDS: Diverticular diseases - Colonic diverticulosis - Mesalamine - Colonic diverticulitis - Probiotics