Diverticular disease is one of the most common medical conditions affecting
Western populations. Inflammatory complications are the most common
manifestation of the disease and typically cause acute bouts of abdominal pain
and fever. Chronic symptoms can also occur and can be mistakenly attributed to
irritable bowel syndrome and rarely to inflammatory bowel disease. Alterations
in peridiverticular bacterial flora are thought to play a role in the
pathogenesis of diverticular inflammation. This article discusses the
rationale and reviews the existing clinical data regarding the role of
probiotics in the management of diverticular disease.
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