Rheumatologic manifestations occurring during inflammatory bowel disease are the most frequent extra intestinal features. They are dominated by spondyloarthropathies, sacro-iliite and peripheral arthritis.
To identify in a group of inflammatory bowel disease, the frequency of axial manifestations, to describe the clinical and the radiological features and to identify the risk factors of their occurrence and/or worseness.
We have established a transversal prospective study including 50 cases of inflammatory bowel disease seen in the department of the internal medicine in the interior forces security hospital during a period of 5 years between January 2001 and December 2006.
The prevalence of axial involvement in the case of inflammatory bowel disease was 26% especially spondyloarthropathies which were diagnosed in 11 cases according to the criteria of European Spondyloarthropathy study Group (ESSG), 8 of them fulfilled the modified criteria of New York for the diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy. Isolated sacro-iliitis was found in 4% of cases. By univariate study, only the age under 35 years with a relative risk of 5,8 and the colic involvement in Chron's disease was significativelly associated with the presence of spondyloarthropathy.
Systematic checking of spondyloarthropathies in the course of inflammatory bowel disease through a clinical exam and systematic radiological should be recommended especially if we are in front of a man aged more than 35-years-old with a Chron disease involving the colon. This screening offers an early management and avoid ankylosis.