Articular manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
Rheumatic manifestations are frequent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are associated with a wide range of clinical patterns.


METHODS
Articular symptoms and signs were investigated by questionnaire in a cohort of 651 pts, mean age 42+/-14 years, followed at two referral hospitals over a 12-month period.


RESULTS
142 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 120 Crohn's disease (CD) patients referred articular pain during their IBD history: in 46% this was associated with active IBD, in 56% symptoms were intermittent and in 19% symptoms preceded IBD diagnosis. 62 pts (28 UC, 34 CD) complaining of articular symptoms at the time of the interview, were investigated by the rheumatologist: arthropathy was axial in 52%, oligoarticular in 16% and polyarticular in 23%. Oligoarthritis commonly involved the lower limbs and was more commonly associated with UC. The mean number of small joints involved was significantly higher in CD than in UC pts (9.9+/-8.2 vs. 5.6+/-4.3; p<0.01). Bone scintigraphy was abnormal in 70% of pts.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of self-reported articular symptoms in IBD patients exceeds 40% with 9.5% incidence during 1-year follow up. Symptoms predict entheropatic involvement of the locomotor system.
D'Incà
R
R
Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Italy. dinca@unipd.it
Podswiadek
M
M
Ferronato
A
A
Punzi
L
L
Salvagnini
M
M
Sturniolo
G C
GC
D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000150:complications; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen