title: Effectiveness of different therapeutic strategies in preventing diverticulitis recurrence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colonic diverticulitis shows a high recurrence rate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of three different therapeutic strategies in preventing diverticulitis recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty patients suffering from Acute Uncomplicated Diverticulitis (AUD) (81 males, 49 females, mean age 64.71 years, range 40-85) were prospectively assessed. After obtaining remission, considered present when both endoscopic and histological damage were absent, the patients were treated with mesalazine 1.6 g/day (59 patients, group A), or rifaximin 800 mg/day for 7 days every month (52 patients, group B). Clinical, endoscopic and histological follow-up was performed after 6, 12 and thereafter every 12 months after diagnosis of AUD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were excluded from final evaluation because they were lost to follow-up. Fifty-five group A patients and 49 group B patients patients were available for the final assessment at the end of a 24-month follow-up. Sustained remission was significantly higher in group A with respect to group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients taking mesalazine have lower risk of diverticulitis recurrence than patients taking rifaximin because of the lower prevalence of persisting endoscopic and histological inflammation.
authors: Gastroenterology Service, ASL BAT, Andria, Barletta, Italy. antotursi@tiscali.it
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tursi
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Elisei
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Giorgetti
authors: C D
authors: CD
authors: Inchingolo
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Nenna
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Picchio
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Maiorano
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Penna
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Lecca
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Brandimarte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078262:Rifaximin; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D012294:Rifamycins; D019804:Mesalamine; D000078262:Rifaximin