Pregnancy and Healthy Childbirth in a 37 Year-Old Patient with Diverticular Disease

• Published in: Rossiĭskiĭ zhurnal gastroėnterologii, gepatologii, koloproktologii Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 58 - 62
• Main Authors: Andreev, P. S., Katorkin, S. E., Davydova, O. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Gastro LLC 03.12.2020
• Subjects: diverticular disease; pregnancy; rifaximin-α
• ISSN: 1382-4376; 2658-6673
• DOI: 10.22416/1382-4376-2020-30-5-58-62

Aim. To describe a clinical case of pregnancy and healthy labour in a young female patient with uncomplicated diverticular disease (DD). Key points. In recent years, DD is more frequently observed in younger patients. A 37-yo woman manifested the symptoms of periodic intense abdominal pain and constant abdominal discomfort. Colonic DD was diagnosed with irrigoscopy. A high-fibre diet, rifaximin-α at 400 mg twice a day for one week, once a month for six months, and topical anti-inflammatory therapy were prescribed. Clinical symptoms were eradicated upon the treatment. Unaware of pregnancy, the patient had another course of rifaximin-α at the second week of gestation, after which the therapy was stopped. Rifaximin-α, which has a poor intestinal absorption, did not affect the foetal development. A caesarean childbirth was healthy, the newborn was delivered on term with no complications (Apgar score 8). Conclusion. DD should be included in differential diagnosis for patients with non-specific symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating and discomfort), regardless of young age. No protocols are currently accepted for the DD management during gestation. In the clinical case reported, a patient having diverticular disease and a rifaximin-α therapy at an early term of gestation proceeded without complications for herself and the foetus.