Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type I and Diverticular Disease of the Colon -Do They Relate? : Report of a Case

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that affect the integrity of the connective tissue. Manifestations of the disease include bone fragility, osteoporosis, dentigenesis imperfecta, blue sclera, easy bruising, joint deformity and scoliosis. On the other hand, colonic diverticular disease is the most common acquired disease of the large bowel in the western population. More recent studies propose that that multiple factors among which also genetic influences on extracellular matrix molecules, could play a role in the genesis of colonic diverticula. We report the case of a 57 year old man with known Osteogenesis imperfecta type I disease who presented with acute lower left abdominal pain due to sigmoid diverticulitis. We present the hypothesis that these two entities (Osteogenesis Imperfecta and diverticulosis), as diseases attributed to weakening of the connective tissue, could have a common causative relation.