Diverticular disease: gut microbiota in the clinician’s practice

Diverticular disease: gut microbiota in the clinician’s practice

M.A. Livzan, O.V. Gaus, M.A. Lisovsky 

Omsk State Medical University, Omsk 

Diverticular disease (DD) is a common pathology of the digestive tract and is associated with the risk of complications, such as perforations, peritonitis, fistulas and strictures. In recent decades, there has been a steady trend towards an increase in the DD incidence, including among young persons, which is undoubtedly associated with excess of expenses on the healthcare system. The development and introduction into clinical practice of standardized methods to early diagnosis, as well as treatment and prevention of complications remain an urgent task for clinicians. The article examines epigenetic risk factors for the development of DD, the possibilities of its correction and the main mechanisms of colonic motility disorders. Particular attention is paid to the role of the microbiota, the modulation of which becomes one of the therapeutic targets in DD. Methods concerning correction of the gut microbiota by prescribing pre-, probiotics and antibacterial drugs are also considered. Besides, the article discusses therapeutic approaches to the patient management with DD depending on the disease form, the main purpose of which is the relief of symptoms, prevention of disease progression and complications development.

Keywords: diverticular disease, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, gut microbiota, probiotics.

For citation: Livzan M.A., Gaus O.V., Lisovsky M.A. Diverticular disease: gut microbiota in the clinician’s practice. RMJ. 2023;1:20–26.