Arthropathies are the most common extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting approximately 30% of patients. Symptoms may be debilitating and have a... Show moreArthropathies are the most common extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting approximately 30% of patients. Symptoms may be debilitating and have a considerable impact on quality of life. IBD-associated arthropathies can be divided into inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint pain and may involve both axial and peripheral joints. Non-inflammatory joint pain, or arthralgia, is one of the most common complaint in daily IBD practice, but has not yet been studied systematically. For the gastroenterologist, joint/back pain can be challenging symptoms to diagnose and many have difficulties in differentiating arthralgia from arthritis. Since gastroenterologists are, in general, unfamiliar with the diagnosis and management of joint/back pain, it seems warranted that IBD joint complaints should be classified according to existing rheumatologic standards, thus allowing appropriate multi-disciplinary management. Show less
