Segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis: a 5-year follow-up

Literature data about the outcome of segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis (SCAD) are scarce. Our aim was to assess the clinical outcome of SCAD according to the type of disease.

Twenty-seven SCAD patients underwent a 5-year follow-up (13 males, 14 females; mean age, 63.71 years; range, 50-85 years). Eleven patients were affected by type A, eight by type B, four by type C and four by type D SCAD. During the follow-up, all type B, C, and D patients were under continuous medical treatment. Five type A patients refused any maintaining treatment, but accepted to undergo the clinical, endoscopic, and histological follow-up.

Five type A patients taking therapy (83.33%), two type A not taking therapy (50%), all type C patients (100%), five type B patients (62.5%) and none of type D (0%) were under continuous remission at the end of the follow-up. All type D patients required further steroid course to obtain remission, and two patients required azathioprine to maintain remission. INTERPRETATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: SCAD B and D patients fail to maintain long-term remission, often requiring immunosuppressive treatment. SCAD A and C patients show a more benign course; however, long-term treatment guarantees longer remission also in those patients.