Osteoarticular manifestations: specific treatments and/or treating intestinal disease?

Osteoarticular manifestations in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) belong to the concept of spondyloarthritis (SpA) including an axial and peripheral SpA according to predominant symptoms (inflammatory back pain vs. peripheral arthritis and enthesopathy). Careful examination of sacroiliac joints on MRI plays a crucial role in the recognition of an early axial SpA in young patients with inflammatory back pain and spinal inflammation on MRI but without structural changes on radiography (non-rx SpA). In this early form of SpA, chronic gut inflammation was already found in about 30% of patients. Moreover, more pronounced bone marrow edema was found in patients with axial SpA and chronic gut inflammation. Identification of a therapeutic window in patients with early gut and spine inflammation is important since anti-TNF suppresses inflammation and seems to prevent evolution to structural changes. Shared genetic factors probably predispose to both diseases. Careful analysis of the effect of medication on gut and spine inflammation in SpA and IBD patients is recommended in order to find new therapeutic agents.