[Clinical extraintestinal manifestations in patients with ulcerative colitis].
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease clinically manifest either by bowel symptoms alone or extraintestinal symptoms.


METHODS
Our prospective study included 635 patients with ulcerative colitis (334 males and 301 females, mean age 37.54 +/- 13.84, range 20-70 years). The presence of the common extraintestinal symptoms (ES) was analyzed.


RESULTS
Of the 635 investigated patients, these symptoms were found in 83 (13%, 49 males and 34 females, mean age 41.6 +/- 13.95 range 21-70). Patients with ES suffered longer from UC on the average, that is 60.6 years. Most commonly ES involved the joints, 38 (45.8%) patients, hepatobiliary, 28 patients (33.7%), skin, 10 patients (12%) and eyes, 7 patients (8.4%). In 18% of the patients two or more ES were present. ES were clinically detectable after the intestinal symptoms in 81% patients. An increased tendency of ES to occur in patients with a more extensive disease was noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of ES in the UC patients from NE Romania is in agreement with data from other countries. The number of ES supports the need for complex follow-up in these patients.
Toader
Elena
E
Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi, Facultatea de Bioinginerie, Institutul de Gastroenterologie si Hepatologie, Iaşi.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology