Gut Microbiota May Predict the Short-Term Recurrence of Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease

Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease (SUDD) may recur, but it is still unknown whether the gut microbiota (GM) may play a role. We aimed to analyze whether GM plays a role in short-term (6 months) relapse in SUDD patients for whom GM data were retrospectively available.

GM was profiled using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing in SUDD patients who did or did not relapse within 6 months of diagnosis, as well as in patients with asymptomatic diverticulosis (AD) who served as controls.

Of 66 SUDD patients, 5 experienced SUDD recurrence within 6 months of diagnosis. Relapsers and non-relapsers did not differ in in GM alpha and beta diversity, either between each other or compared to controls. However, taxonomically the phylum Verrucomicrobiota, the family Erysipelotrichaceae and the genera Prevotellaceae NK3B31 group, Roseburia and Holdemanella were enriched in SUDD relapsers, while Ruminococcaceae and Sutterella were enriched in non-relapsers (p<0.05).

This study suggests an association between recurrent SUDD and pro-inflammatory taxa that have previously been implicated in severe SUDD and other gut disturbances. Larger and longer cohort studies are warranted to further investigate the potential predictive role of GM in short-term recurrence of SUDD and to inform precise intervention strategies.