Determination of the frequency of extraintestinal manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a systemic disease whose etiology and pathogenesis are not fully understood and that affects organs and systems other than the gastrointestinal system. Many patients with IBD can develop extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), affecting numerous organs and systems. The medical records of IBD patients followed in our gastroenterology clinic were retrospectively examined. While patients with Crohn's disease (CD) were grouped by anatomical site and clinical type, patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) were grouped by anatomical site of involvement.They examined the association between the presence of EIMs and demographic characteristics, diagnostic groups, sex, age groups, anatomical involvement, CD clinical types and fistula types. In addition, the patient groups and the relationship between EIM subgroups were evaluated. The study consisted of 393 patients with IBD, including 276 patients with UC and 117 with CD. The frequency of at least one EIM was 35.4% in 139 patients. When subgroups were examined,hepatosteatosis was the most common EIM, followed by hepatobiliary manifestations. EIM frequency was higher in CD than in UC when the two were compared. There was no significant relationship between EIM and diagnosis groups, anatomical location, clinical type of CD, or fistula types. Regarding the relationship between EIMs, there was no direct proportional relationship, but there was a significant decrease in the incidence of other EIMs in some EIMs. Determining the prevalence and risk factors associated with EIMs and raising awareness about this issue may aid in its early diagnosis and treatment. Thus, complications that may arise during the follow-up process can be avoided.