SUMMARY BackgroundPlacebo-controlled studies in maintaining remission of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) of the colon are lacking.

Endoscopic patterns of SCAD may range from mild to severe inflammation. The histopathological findings but not clinical features showed a statistically significant association with the degree of endoscopic severity.

FC was not increased in healthy controls and IBS patients. No difference was found between asymptomatic diverticulosis, healthy controls, and IBS patients (p = n.s.). We found higher FC values in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (p < 0.0005) and in symptomatic uncomplicated DD (p < 0.005) than in healthy controls and in IBS patients. FC values correlated with inflammatory infiltrate (p < 0.0005). FC decreased after treatment to normal values both in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (p < 0.0005) and in symptomatic uncomplicated DD (p < 0.005) after treatment. INTERPRETATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: FC may be useful to detect colonic inflammation in DD and in distinguishing symptomatic DD from IBS, as well as in assessing response to therapy in DD.

Clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings may easily differentiate uncomplicated from complicated diverticulitis of the colon. This integrated approach may be helpful in clinical settings.

Combination probiotic/anti-inflammatory drug was found better than probiotic treatment in preventing relapse of uncomplicated diverticulitis of the colon, even if without statistical significance.