Frequency of extraintestinal manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Northwest Greece and review of the literature

Background. Inflammatory bowel disease mainly affects the bowel but also has extraintestinal manifestations. Aims. To report the frequency of extraintestinal manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Northwest Greece. Patients. The data files of 256 inflammatory bowel disease patients (diagnosis between 1983–1997) were analysed. Methods. Retrospective investigation of patient files. Results. In patients with ulcerative colitis: 13.9% ( 30 215 ) had developed skin manifestations, 6% ( 13 215 ) had kidney stones, 1.39% ( 3 215 ) had iridocyclitis, 1.86% ( 4 215 ) had primary sclerosing cholangitis, 4.18% ( 9 215 ) had sacroiliitis, 8.31% ( 18 215 ) had peripheral arthalgias, 2.3% ( 5 215 ) had colitic arthritis and finally 1.39% ( 3 215 ) had deep vein thrombosis). In patients with Crohn's disease: 24.3% ( 9 37 ) had developed skin manifestations, 5.4% ( 2 37 ) had kidney stones, 2.7% ( 1 37 ) had iridocyclitis, 16.2% ( 6 37 ) had sacroiliitis, 8.1% ( 3 37 ) had peripheral arthralgias, 5.4% ( 2 37 ) had colitic arthritis and, finally, 8.1% ( 3 37 ) had deep vein thrombosis. Sacroiliitis (p=0.01), deep vein thrombosis (p=0.04) and erythmema nodosum (p=0.01) were more common in patients with Crohn's disease. Conclusions. Extraintestinal manifestations are not rare in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially in Crohn's disease patients, in our area, but have, generally, a mild profile.