ENTEROPATHIC ARTHRITIS

Question 1

Define enteropathic arthritis.

Answer 1

Chronic, inflammatory arthritis associated with the occurrence of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Question 2

Which joints are most commonly affected by enteropathic arthritis?

Answer 2

Peripheral joints are more affected than axial.

Question 3

What percentage of people with Crohns or ulcerative colitis develop arthritis?

Answer 3

10-15%

Question 4

Why might IBD cause enteropathic arthritis?

Answer 4

Possibly abnormal mucosal permeability exposes patient to antigens that trigger synovitis.

There might be cross reactivity between articular tissue self-antigens and bacterial antigens.

Question 5

Are men or women more likely to develop the peripheral form of enteropathic arthritis?

Answer 5

Equally likely

Question 6

Are men or women more likely to develop the axial form of enteropathic arthritis?

Answer 6

Men

Question 7

Are patients who develop the peripheral form of enteropathic arthritis more likely to have Crohns or ulcerative colitis?

Answer 7

Crohn’s

Question 8

Is peripheral enteropathic arthritis normally mono-, oligo- or poly-arthritis?

Answer 8

Oligo

Question 9

Which joints are mainly affected by peripheral enteropathic arthritis?

Answer 9

Lower limb joints

Question 10

With peripheral enteropathic arthritis, do flare ups in the gut correspond to flare ups of the joint pain?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

What are some of the extra-articular symptoms associated with enteropathic arthritis?

Answer 11

Abdominal pain
Weight loss
Erythema nodosum
Mouth ulcers
Anterior uveitis
Fever

Question 12

Is enteropathic arthritis an erosive form of arthritis?

Answer 12

Yes