title: [Diverticular disease - new insights into pathogenesis].
abstract: Diverticular disease is associated with a high incidence, morbidity and burden of the healthcare system. However, the pathogenesis is not yet satisfactorily clarified and thought to be multifactorial. Non-influenceable risk factors include increasing age, genetic predisposition and rare congenital connective tissue diseases. Influenceable risk factors are low-fiber diet, increased meat consumption and obesity. Alterations of connective tissue lead to a weakening of preformed emergence sites of diverticula ("loci minoris resistentiae") and may explain the increased incidence of diverticular disease in diseases caused by a systematic connective tissue disorder. The impact of neuromuscular alterations and disturbed colonic motility on triggering diverticula formation has been previously underestimated. Moreover, intestinal innervation disorders are considered to be responsable for persisting recurrent pain symptoms in chronic diverticular disease.
authors.affiliation: Arbeitsgruppe Neurogastroenterologie, Zentrum für Klinische Anatomie, Anatomisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wedel
authors.affiliation: Arbeitsgruppe Neurogastroenterologie, Zentrum für Klinische Anatomie, Anatomisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrenschee
authors.affiliation: Arbeitsgruppe Neurogastroenterologie, Zentrum für Klinische Anatomie, Anatomisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cossais
authors.affiliation: Arbeitsgruppe Neurogastroenterologie, Zentrum für Klinische Anatomie, Anatomisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Arbeitsgruppe Neurogastroenterologie, Zentrum für Klinische Anatomie, Anatomisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böttner
mesh_terms: D004238:Diverticulitis; D004240:Diverticulum; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases