From Bowel inflammation to the Bone and Joints: Rheumatologic examination in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Samane Tavassoli, Seyed Farzam Mirkamali, Iman Shahabinasab, Alireza Norouzi, Taghi Amiriani, Nafiseh Abdolahi, Somayeh Livani, Honey Sadat Mirkarimi, Sima Besharat, Fazel Isapanah Amlashi Published 2021, in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
Abstract
Background: The most common complications in inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are musculoskeletal manifestations that are reported in more than 50% of patients.
Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the musculoskeletal and radiologic manifestations in our IBD patients.
Methods: In this study on 96 mild-to-moderate IBD patients (76 UC, 18 CD and 2 undifferentiated IBD) with mean (SD) age of 39.28 (11.42) years, 44 (45.8%) were males and 52 were (54.2%) females. Patients were examined by an expert rheumatologist and their musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed. The musculoskeletal system was evaluated by Modified Schober test, Thoracic expansion (TE), Occiput to wall distance (OWD), and Patrick's or FABER test. Peripheral joints were also examined in all four extremities. Then patients were referred for pelvic and lumbosacral x-ray. Sacroiliitis grading was performed using the New York criteria. Results: Inflammatory low back pain was reported in 5 (5.2%), enthesopathy in 6 (6.5%) and dactilitis in 1 (1.1%). Positive Schober test was recorded in 5 (5.2%) and Patrick test in 3 (3.1%). Forty-nine (51%) cases had normal imaging with no sacroilliitis, endplate sclerosis was seen in 33 cases (34.4%), grade 3 and grade 4 were seen in 10 cases (10.4%).
Conclusions: In the present study, 34.4% of the IBD patients had mild radiologic changes as endplate sclerosis and 95% had a normal physical examination.