Combined therapy: rifaximin-α and arabinogalactan with lactoferrin combination effectively prevents recurrences of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease.

Introduction: Background: Diverticulosis is the most common finding in the GI tract. Nearly half of the people with diverticula experience symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD).

Aims: The primary endpoints of our study were to assess the effectiveness of combined therapy with rifaximin-α and arabinogalactan-lactoferrin in symptom reduction and normalization of bowel movements. The secondary endpoints were an assessment of efficacy in SUDD recurrence prevention and patients' compliance to the combined therapy.

Methods: A retrospective observational survey study was performed in 2019 among physicians experienced in diverticular disease (DD) treatment in Poland. Patients with previous episodes of recurrences treated with combined therapy (cyclic rifaximin-α at least 400 mg b.i.d/7 days/every month and continuous arabinogalactan-lactoferrin supplementation 1 sachet daily) were assessed after 3 and 6 months regarding symptoms' resolution in the three-point scale. The patients' SUDD history, diagnostic methods, treatment, and results, as well as patients' compliance were evaluated.

Results: 281 patients met inclusion criteria, and were further evaluated (67.6% women, median age 65 years). After 6 months of combined treatment, there was a statistically significant reduction in the total severity score (median from 1.7 [max 3 points] to 0.26; P < 0.0001; sum from 8.5 [max 15 points] to 1.28; P < 0.0001) and improvement in each symptom score. Stool frequency statistically normalized in every group. As many as 31.7% had complete symptom resolution. Patients' compliance with the therapy was very good and good in 92.9% of cases. C onclusions and discussion: Combination therapy with cyclic rifaximin-α and continuous arabinogalactan combined with lactoferrin are effective in SUDD treatment in terms of symptom resolution, bowel movement normalization, prevention of recurrences with very good patient's compliance.