title: Efficacy of 5-ASA in the treatment of colonic diverticular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the therapeutic efficacy of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in patients with colonic diverticular disease performing a systematic review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cochrane Trial Register (until Issue 4, 2008), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (1966 to October 1, 2008), Excerpta Medica Database (1980 to October 1, 2008), and abstracts from the major US, European, and Asian gastroenterology conferences. Expert opinions sought and reference lists of identified studies and any relevant published reviews checked.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial (RCT) or a controlled clinical trial with a parallel group design using 5-ASA as 1 treatment arm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six RCTs enrolling 818 patients were found: 3 were performed in patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis, and the remaining in patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease. The results of these studies showed that patients treated with 5-ASA had significantly better outcomes and that also mesalazine scheduled daily was superior to cyclic administration to prevent relapse of diverticular disease. However, several of these studies have not included an endoscopy at the start of the study and when patients had recurrences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From this systematic review, it seems that 5-ASAs may have a role in patients with colonic diverticular disease. However, high-quality well-designed RCTs are necessary to confirm these initial observations.
authors: Versilia Hospital, Lido di Camaiore, Department of Clinical Science, University of Parma, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. gattaluigi@yahoo.it
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Gatta
authors: Nimish
authors: N
authors: Vakil
authors: Dino
authors: D
authors: Vaira
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Pilotto
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Curlo
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Comparato
authors: Gioacchino
authors: G
authors: Leandro
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Ferro
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Lera
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Milletti
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Di Mario
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019804:Mesalamine