Info
extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease
CATEGORY | CLINICAL COURSE | TREATMENT |
---|---|---|
Rheumatologic disorders (5–20%) | ||
Peripheral arthritis | Asymmetric, migratory Parallels bowel activity | Reduce bowel inflammation |
Sacroiliitis | Symmetric: spine and hip joints Independent of bowel activity | Steroids, injections, methotrexate, anti-TNF |
Ankylosing spondylitis | Gradual fusion of spine Independent of bowel activity Two-thirds have HLA-B27 antigen | Physical therapy, steroids, injections, methotrexate, anti-TNF, IL-17 inhibitors, tofacitinib |
Metabolic bone disorders (up to 40% of patients) | ||
Osteoporosis | Risk increased by glucocorticoids, cyclosporine, methotrexate, total parenteral nutrition, malabsorption, and inflammation Fracture rates highest in the elderly (age >60) | Screening with DEXA scan, check vitamin D levels, treat if osteoporosis or osteopenia on long-term corticosteroids |
Osteonecrosis | Death of osteocytes and adipocytes and eventual bone collapse; affects hips more than knees or shoulders; risk factor is steroid use | Pain control, injections, joint replacement |
Dermatologic disorders (10–20%) | ||
Erythema nodosum | Hot, red, tender, nodules/extremities Parallels bowel activity | Reduce bowel inflammation |
Pyoderma gangrenosum | Ulcerating, necrotic lesions on extremities, trunk, face, stoma Independent of bowel activity | Antibiotics, steroids, cyclosporine, infliximab, dapsone, azathioprine, intralesional steroids; not debridement or colectomy |
Psoriasis | Unrelated to bowel activity | Topical steroids, light therapy, methotrexate, infliximab, adalimumab, ustekinumab |
Pyoderma vegetans | Intertriginous areas Parallels bowel activity | Evanescent; resolves without progression |
Pyostomatitis vegetans | Mucous membranes Parallels bowel activity | Evanescent; resolves without progression |
Metastatic Crohn’s disease (CD) | CD of the skin Parallels bowel activity | Reduce bowel inflammation |
Sweet syndrome | Neutrophilic dermatosis Parallels bowel activity | Reduce bowel inflammation |
Aphthous stomatitis | Oral ulcerations Parallels bowel activity | Reduce bowel inflammation/topical therapy |
Ocular disorders (1–11%) | ||
Uveitis | Ocular pain, photophobia, blurred vision, headache Independent of bowel activity | Topical or systemic steroids |
Episcleritis | Mild ocular burning Parallels bowel activity | Topical corticosteroids |
Hepatobiliary disorders (10–35%) | ||
Fatty liver | Secondary to chronic illness, malnutrition, steroid therapy | Improve nutrition, reduce steroids |
Cholelithiasis | Patients with ileitis or ileal resection Malabsorption of bile acids, depletion of bile salt pool, secretion of lithogenic bile | Reduce bowel inflammation; cholecystectomy in symptomatic patients |
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) | Intrahepatic and extrahepatic Inflammation and fibrosis leading to biliary cirrhosis and hepatic failure 7–10% cholangiocarcinoma Small-duct PSC involves small-caliber bile ducts and has a better prognosis | ERCP/high-dose ursodiol lowers risk of colonic neoplasia; cholecystectomy in patients with gallbladder polyps due to the high incidence of malignancy |
Urologic | ||
Nephrolithiasis (10–20%) | CD patients following small-bowel resection; calcium oxalate stones most common | Low-oxalate diet; control of bowel inflammation; surgical intervention |
Less common extraintestinal manifestations | ||
Thromboembolic disorders | Increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis; factors responsible include abnormalities of the platelet-endothelial interaction, hyperhomocysteinemia, alterations in the coagulation cascade, impaired fibrinolysis, involvement of tissue factor–bearing microvesicles, disruption of the normal coagulation system by autoantibodies, and a genetic predisposition | Anticoagulation; control of inflammation |
Cardiopulmonary | Endocarditis, myocarditis, pleuropericarditis, interstitial lung disease | Treatment is varied; stop 5-ASA agents as they can rarely cause interstitial lung disease |
Systemic amyloidosis | Secondary (reactive) in long-standing IBD, especially CD | Colchicine |
Pancreatitis | Duodenal fistulas, ampullary CD, gallstones, PSC, drugs (MP, azathioprine, 5-ASAs), autoimmune, primary CD of the pancreas | Treatment is varied; stop offending medication; diagnose and treat with ERCP and/or cholecystectomy |