|
|
-
Ital J Gastroenterol 1992 Oct;24(8):452-6 |
|
Efficacy of rifaximin on
symptoms of uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon.
A pilot multicentre open trial. Diverticular Disease Study Group.
Papi C, Ciaco A, Koch M, Capurso L.
Servizio di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Ospedale
S. Filippo Neri, Roma, Italy.
Diverticular disease of the colon is a common health problem
in western societies. Most patients with colonic diverticula
are asymptomatic; it has been estimated that only 20% of individuals
harboring diverticula will develop symptoms and signs of illness
and a minority will develop major complications. Although the
efficacy of a high fiber diet in the management of symptomatic
uncomplicated diverticular disease is still controversial, bran
and bulking agents are commonly used. Antibiotics are used to
treat major inflammatory complications of diverticular disease
but apparently there is no rationale for the use of antibiotics
in uncomplicated disease where an inflammatory component is
by definition excluded. In a multicenter open trial, 217 patients
with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease were treated
with glucomannan (110 pts) or with glucomannan plus a poorly
absorbable antibiotic (rifaximin 400 mg bid for 7 days each
month) (107 pts). Clinical evaluation was performed bimonthly
for 12 months using a global score system for 8 clinical variables.
After 12 months, patients treated with glucomannan plus rifaximin
showed a 63.9% reduction of the score as compared to 47.6% in
patients treated with glucomannan only (p < 0.001). Cyclic
administration of rifaximin appears to be of some advantage
in obtaining symptomatic relief in uncomplicated diverticular
disease.
Publication Types:
- Clinical Trial
- Multicenter Study
- Randomized Controlled Trial
|
|
|