There is a strong link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and spondyloarthritis – a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness. The risk is particularly high among patients with Crohn’s disease and those who were diagnosed with IBD as children. Sarita Shrestha demonstrated this in her PhD thesis at örebro University.
Patients with IBD are more likely to develop ankylosing spondylitis, both before and after an IBD diagnosis, compared to the general population.”
Sarita Shrestha, medical researcher at Örebro University
The substudy is based on national registry data from 39,203 patients diagnosed with IBD between 2006 and 2016, compared with 390,490 reference subjects from the general population. In addition to IBD patients, the study also includes spouses and first-degree relatives.
“The results show that the risk of spondyloarthritis was also higher among close family members, which was expected because of the genetic link. However, the increased risk among spouses was unexpected and suggests that environmental factors or shared lifestyle habits may play a role in development these conditions,” says Sarita Shrestha.
Joint pain and skin problems after surgery
Sarita Shrestha also studied how colectomy, the surgical removal of the colon, affects joints and other aspects in patients with ulcerative colitis.
“We found that the joint and skin problems did not actually decrease after surgery. The immune-related problems that cause these complications seem to persist even after colon surgery.”
“Our findings emphasize that healthcare providers need to be alert to issues not only in the gastrointestinal tract but also in other organ systems in patients with IBD, particularly those diagnosed at a younger age and their families. In ulcerative colitis, it is important to remember that inflammation in the body can remain even after the diseased part of the intestine has been surgically removed.”
Improved quality of life
About half of all IBD patients develop complications that affect the joints, skin, bones, eyes, kidneys, and liver. Sarita Shrestha hopes her research can help develop more effective care plans that take into account the risk of various complications, along with genetic and environmental factors.
“Early detection and management of complications, especially in younger patients, can lead to better treatment outcomes and improved quality of life for patients and their families.”
