Arthritis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Signs and Symptoms

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders, including Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, that cause an inflammation of the intestines. Approximately 7 percent to 20 percent of people with IBD develop arthritis, which typically affects the large joints of the lower extremities. Men and women with IBD are affected by arthritis equally.

Symptoms of arthritis usually occur at the same time a person is experiencing symptoms of IBD.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will begin by recording your complete medical history, including a description of your symptoms. You also will undergo a physical examination to check for any physical signs of the disease.

Treatment

In most cases, the arthritis improves dramatically when the underlying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is treated.

Treatment may consist of the following

• A modified diet
• Exercise
• Surgery
• Drug therapy

Possible medications include corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, sulfasalazine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).