The role of infectious parameters in the early prediction of complicated colonic diverticulitis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Acute colonic diverticulitis has recently become a significant cause of hospital admissions. Complicated colonic diverticulitis, a severe form of the disease, necessitates medical and surgical intervention. Prompt diagnosis in these patients is crucial. This study aims to assess the role of infectious parameters in the early diagnosis of complicated colonic diverticulitis. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 82 adult patients diagnosed with acute diverticulitis. Recorded data included patient demographics, hospital stay duration, disease location, and surgical procedures. Infectious parameters such as white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), percentage of immature granulocytes (IG%), and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) were calculated and noted. Patients underwent abdominal computed tomography upon admission, and based on these results, they were categorized into uncomplicated or complicated diverticulitis groups. Statistical analysis was performed to identify differences between these groups. RESULTS: CRP, NLR, and SII were significantly more predictive of complicated acute colonic diverticulitis. However, no statistical differences in WBC and IG% values were observed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The study found that the percentage of immature granulocytes, previously deemed a reliable marker in many studies, did not significantly predict complicated colonic diverticulitis. Further comprehensive studies are necessary to explore inflammatory markers in colonic diverticulitis more thoroughly.