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Faecal calprotectin in colonic diverticular disease: a case–control study

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Abstract

Background and aims

Information about faecal calprotectin (FC) in colonic diverticular disease (DD) are lacking. We assessed FC in colonic DD, comparing it with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and healthy controls. Moreover, we compared FC levels in different degrees of DD and assessed FC in symptomatic DD before and after treatment.

Materials and methods

Forty-eight consecutive patients with a new endoscopic diagnosis of DD (16 with asymptomatic diverticulosis, 16 with symptomatic uncomplicated DD, 16 with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis), 16 healthy controls, and 16 IBS patients were studied. FC was assessed by semi-quantitative method and compared with histological inflammation. Moreover, FC was reassessed in symptomatic DD after 8 weeks of treatment.

Results/findings

FC was not increased in healthy controls and IBS patients. No difference was found between asymptomatic diverticulosis, healthy controls, and IBS patients (p = n.s.). We found higher FC values in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (p < 0.0005) and in symptomatic uncomplicated DD (p < 0.005) than in healthy controls and in IBS patients. FC values correlated with inflammatory infiltrate (p < 0.0005). FC decreased after treatment to normal values both in acute uncomplicated diverticulitis (p < 0.0005) and in symptomatic uncomplicated DD (p < 0.005) after treatment.

Interpretations/conclusions

FC may be useful to detect colonic inflammation in DD and in distinguishing symptomatic DD from IBS, as well as in assessing response to therapy in DD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive Endoscopy Unit, “Lorenzo Bonomo” Hospital, Via Torino, 49, 70031, Andria, BA, Italy

    Antonio Tursi

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, “Cristo Re” Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Brandimarte & Walter Elisei

  3. Clinical Nutrition Unit, “S. Eugenio” Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Gian Marco Giorgetti

  4. Department of Pathology, “Lorenzo Bonomo” Hospital, Andria, Bari, Italy

    Cosimo Damiano Inchingolo

  5. Department of Statistical and Mathematical Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Fabio Aiello

Authors
  1. Antonio Tursi
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  2. Giovanni Brandimarte
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  3. Walter Elisei
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  4. Gian Marco Giorgetti
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  5. Cosimo Damiano Inchingolo
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  6. Fabio Aiello
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Tursi.

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Tursi, A., Brandimarte, G., Elisei, W. et al. Faecal calprotectin in colonic diverticular disease: a case–control study. Int J Colorectal Dis 24, 49–55 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-008-0595-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-008-0595-9

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