Does the extent and activity of IBD correlate with the activity of the peripheral inflammatory arthritis?
- Patients with UC and CD are more likely to develop a peripheral arthritis if the colon is extensively involved.
- In patients with type 1 arthritis, most arthritic attacks occur during the first few years following onset of the bowel disease, but late occurrences also occur.
- The episodes coincide with flares of bowel disease in 60% to 80% of patients.
- The arthritis may precede symptoms of IBD in up to 30% of cases, especially in children with CD. Consequently, lack of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and even a negative stool guaiac test do not exclude the possibility of occult CD in a patient who presents with a characteristic arthritis.
