Pathophysiology of diverticular disease

There is substantial evidence that colonic diverticulosis is related to civilization, industrialization and a ‘Western’ lifestyle and diet, being described as ‘a disease of Western civilization’. Its increased incidence during the 20th century and the morbidity and mortality associated with complications, demand that this condition should receive greater attention in terms of aetiology, prevention and management. It is generally believed that low dietary fibre and ageing are the two main pathogenic factors involved in this disease. Physiological studies have also demonstrated that there is a higher intraluminal pressure in the large bowel with diverticula. This chapter provides the evidence currently available for the pathophysiology of colonic diverticulosis and discusses its aetiological factors, including low dietary fibre, ageing and intraluminal pressure as well as extracelluar matrix such as collagen and elastin. The difference between the left-sided diverticulosis commonly seen in Caucasians and the right-sided predominantly observed in Asians is also presented.