title: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha expression in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis is related to the severity of the endoscopic damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumour necrosis factor-α expression may be increased in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess tumour necrosis factor-α expression in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis in relation with the severity of the endoscopic damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  21 patients affected by segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis were studied (15 M, 6 F, mean age 58.87 years, range 43-85 years). Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis was graduated as mild-moderate (patterns A and C) and severe (patterns B and D). Ten patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, 10 patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease, and 10 patients with irritable bowel syndrome served as control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumour necrosis factor-α expression was significantly higher in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis B (42.7%) and segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis D (40%) than in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis A (19.1%) and segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis C (21.1%).Tumour necrosis factor-α expression was lower in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis A and C than in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, whilst no different tumour necrosis factor-α expression was found between segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis B and D and both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.Finally, tumour necrosis factor-α expression was significantly lower in irritable bowel syndrome (8%±4) than in every type of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumour necrosis factor-α expression in segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis seems to be related to the severity of the endoscopic damage. This behaviour, similar to that of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), confirms that this disease should be considered as a subtype of IBD.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Gastroenterologia Territoriale, ASL BAT, Andria (BAT), Italy. antotursi@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tursi
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Elisei
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brandimarte
authors.forename: Gian Marco
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Giorgetti
authors.forename: Cosimo Damiano
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Inchingolo
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nenna
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ierardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003092:Colitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D043963:Diverticulosis, Colonic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha