New physiopathological and therapeutic approaches to diverticular disease of the colon.

Diverticular disease of the colon is among the most common diseases of westernised and industrialised countries. Its prevalence is approximately 5-10% of people up to 50 years of age, 30% of those > 50 years of age, and 50% of those > 70 years of age, and 66% of people > 85 years of age. Standard medical therapies with antibiotics are still the recommended treatment. However, changing concepts and new therapies recently found that anti-inflammatory agents, such as mesalazine (alone or in combination with antibiotics) and probiotics, may be useful in shortening the course of the disease and perhaps in preventing recurrences.