Table 3.
Areas of Unmet Need in Diverticular Disease
Epidemiology |
Delineate factors associated with the rapid rise in diverticulitis incidence among young patients |
Understand the long-term, global impact of acute diverticulitis on patients |
Identify markers (clinical and biomarkers) of risk of disease progression/recurrence |
Examine sex and racial differences in the incidence of diverticulitis |
Define the natural history of diverticulitis in immunocompromised patients |
Pathogenesis |
Determine the role of systemic and mucosal inflammation in the development diverticulitis |
Examine prospectively the gut microbiota and related metabolites in diverticulitis |
Clarify risk genes within genetic risk loci associated with diverticulitis and determine mechanisms |
Delineate the role of connective tissue and enteric nerve abnormalities in diverticulitis |
Medical Treatment |
Develop accurate clinical prediction tools to aide in the diagnosis and triage of acute diverticulitis |
Examine the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of diverticulitis (in the U.S.) |
Define the long-term consequences of withholding antibiotics in uncomplicated diverticulitis |
Compare dietary strategies in the treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis |
Study pain control strategies for complicated and uncomplicated diverticulitis |
Surgical Treatment |
Compare outcomes in patients undergoing surgery vs no surgery for recurrent diverticulitis |
Understand long-term outcomes of medical vs surgical treatment of complicated diverticulitis |
Identify predictors of postoperative complications |
Identify predictors of resolution of symptoms following surgical resection |
Determine the optimal timing of surgery among patient with persistent inflammatory symptoms |
Evaluate the modern prognostic value of the Hinchey classification system |
Prevention |
Define the role of diet and lifestyle modification in the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis |
Develop and test new pharmaceutical agents in the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis |
Compare medical vs surgical approach to prevention of recurrent diverticulitis |