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Absence of Mucosal Inflammation in Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease

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Abstract

Background

Uncomplicated diverticular disease is a common condition in patients older than 50 years. Symptoms are aspecific and overlapping with those of irritable bowel syndrome. Nowadays, patients are often treated with antinflammatory drugs (5-aminosalicilic acid).

Aim

Our purpose was to evaluate the presence of inflammation in the colonic mucosa of patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease compared with subjects without diverticula.

Methods

Endoscopic biopsies of colon from 10 patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease and 10 from subjects without diverticula (controls) were taken. Specimens were homogenised and IL2, IL4, IL5, IL8, IL10, IL12p70, IL13, IFN gamma, TNF alfa (searchlight multiplex technique), TGF beta, transglutaminase type 2 and caspase 9 were measured. Histochemistry for transglutaminase type 2 and TUNEL were performed on the histological sections, in addition to morphologic evaluation, as markers of tissue remodelling and apoptosis. For statistical analysis Student’s t test and Spearman correlation test were used.

Results

No histological differences were detected between the patients with an uncomplicated diverticular disease and controls. Mean values of mucosal cytokines and of the other tested parameters did not show statistically significant differences between patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease and controls.

Conclusions

Even if based on a small number of patients, the study demonstrates the absence of inflammation in the mucosa of subjects affected by uncomplicated diverticular disease.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank the Chiesi Farmaceutici for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza 35, 29122, Milan, Italy

    Luca Elli, Leda Roncoroni, Maria Teresa Bardella & Antonella Bonura

  2. Department of Medical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, Milan, Italy

    Leda Roncoroni & Maria Teresa Bardella

  3. Gastroenterology II, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza 35, Milan, Italy

    Claudia Terrani & Luca Piodi

  4. Department of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disease, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza 35, Milan, Italy

    Michele Ciulla

  5. Medical Division, Chiesi Farmaceutici, via Palermo 26/A, Parma, Italy

    Stefano Marconi

Authors
  1. Luca Elli
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  2. Leda Roncoroni
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  3. Maria Teresa Bardella
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  4. Claudia Terrani
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  5. Antonella Bonura
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  6. Michele Ciulla
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  7. Stefano Marconi
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  8. Luca Piodi
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Correspondence to Luca Elli.

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Elli, L., Roncoroni, L., Bardella, M.T. et al. Absence of Mucosal Inflammation in Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease. Dig Dis Sci 56, 2098–2103 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1547-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1547-0

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