Inflammatory bowel disease related joint manifestations: incidence, types, relation to disease activity, and types of treatment

Abstract Background Two chronic gastrointestinal disorders that make up inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The disease has extraintestinal manifestations, including articular (the most common), ocular, dermatologic, pulmonary, biliary, and haematologic. Purpose of the study The study aimed to identify the incidence and types of musculoskeletal symptoms associated with IBD; relation to IBD activity, lines of treatment used, and efficacy of drugs in the prevention and treatment of these joint manifestations. Methods A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted on 150 patients diagnosed with IBD based on clinical, laboratory, radiological, endoscopic, and histopathological data. Detailed history, examination, and complete investigations, including colonoscopy, histopathology, and pelvic and lumbosacral x-rays, were performed. Results A total of 150 patients were included: 131 with UC, 19 with CD, 50 (33.3%) with joint affection, and 100 (66.7%) without joint affection. A total of 23 (46%) patients had axial affection, and 20 (40%) patients had peripheral affection. Meanwhile, 7 (14%) patients had both affections. The majority (60%) of patients had fewer than 5 affected joints, and 20 (40%) had more than 5 affected joints. At the same time, 43 (86%) patients had no peripheral symptoms. Conclusion Joint manifestations are fairly common in patients with IBD (33.3%). Patients with longer duration of the disease, female gender, and more active, severe disease were more liable to develop joint affection. The type of IBD, either CD or UC, and its lines of therapy did not correlate with the occurrence of joint manifestations.