Arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

What is arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to two disorders — Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis — marked by inflammation of the intestinal tract. They are thought to be autoimmune disorders in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the intestinal tract, and other parts of the body, although this is unproven.

Some people with inflammatory bowel disease have a type of arthritis that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in some ways. However, there are some important differences.

With the arthritis associated with IBD, inflammation tends to involve only a few large joints, and it tends not to involve both sides of the body equally. For example, it might affect the knee on one side and the ankle on the other. In rheumatoid arthritis, more joints, especially small ones in the hand and wrist, are involved, and joints on both sides of the body tend to be affected equally.

Antibodies commonly found in the blood of people with rheumatoid arthritis are not usually present in the blood of people with IBD arthritis. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis associated with IBD may affect the lower spine, especially the sacroiliac joints, and is associated with a certain gene (called HLA-B27).

The bowel problems caused by inflammatory bowel disease usually appear before the arthritis develops. Occasionally the arthritis appears first and the inflammatory bowel disease is diagnosed months or even years later.

Symptoms of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Besides the symptoms of IBD on the intestinal tract (such as bloody diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, and fever), people with the arthritis of IBD have pain, swelling, and stiffness (particularly in the morning) in those joints that are inflamed. Symptoms tend to vary over time, sometimes better, sometimes worse.

Often, but not always, the joint symptoms correlate with the bowel symptoms. That is, the joints tend to be more painful and swollen when the gastrointestinal symptoms are worse. Common complaints include low back pain that is worse in the morning and better when you exercise, limited joint motion, and gelling, which means developing more stiffness after not moving around much.

Diagnosing arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

There is no test that can confirm the diagnosis of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Your doctor will ask about your medical history, especially whether you have inflammatory bowel disease. He or she will look for typical symptoms, and will examine you to look for inflamed joints.

Expected duration of arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Arthritis associated with IBD tends to be chronic (long-lasting), though it may get better and worse over time. Rarely, certain treatments can cause the arthritis to subside or even go away. For example, if a patient with ulcerative colitis has a colectomy (removal of the colon), the arthritis may disappear.

Preventing arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

There is no known way to prevent IBD arthritis.

Treating arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease

There is no single best treatment for arthritis associated with IBD. Joint pain may be relieved by a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen. IBD can cause bleeding in the intestinal tract, which can be made worse by a medication that thins the blood, including most NSAIDs. Any NSAID may worsen the intestinal inflammation caused by inflammatory bowel disease.

For more severe cases, injections of corticosteroids into the inflamed joint can provide prompt, though often temporary, relief. Other medications that may help include those that may be prescribed for the intestinal disease, such as sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), azathioprine (Imuran), or oral corticosteroids. Medications used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, such as methotrexate (Folex, Methotrexate LPF, Rheumatrex) can also be effective.

Newer agents, such as injections of adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), and ustekinumab (Stelara)‎, may be quite effective for certain forms of IBD and related arthritis.

If joints become severely damaged, joint surgery, including joint replacement, may help.

It's important to strike a balance between rest and exercise. Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or podiatrist. Splints, shoe inserts, or braces can provide relief in ways that medications cannot.

When to call a professional

Call your doctor if you have symptoms of IBD (including chronic diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, or recurring fever) or of arthritis (including joint pain, swelling, or limited motion).

Prognosis

With treatment, the outlook for IBD arthritis is generally good, although the condition is quite variable. Severe cases may be associated with significant joint damage and the need for surgery within a year or two, while other cases are much milder.

Additional info

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/

National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disorders
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/

American College of Rheumatology
https://www.rheumatology.org/

Arthritis Foundation
https://www.arthritis.org/