Drug-responsive chronic segmental colitis associated with diverticula: a clinical syndrome in the elderly

Abstract

This report reviews the clinical presentation, endoscopic, radiologic, and pathologic features, and response to therapy in eight patients more than 60 yr old who presented with segmental chronic active colitis associated with sigmoid diverticula. The finding of colitis limited to the sigmoid colon in an area of multiple diverticula with no associated features of Crohn's disease, the age at onset, the response to therapy, and the benign course all suggest a distinctive form of inflammatory bowel disease in these patients.