Extraintestinal Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Pathophysiology to Treatment

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are systemic conditions that affect not only the gastrointestinal tract but also other parts of the body. The presence of extraintestinal manifestations can significantly impact the quality of life in IBD patients. Peripheral arthritis, episcleritis, and erythema nodosum are frequently associated with active intestinal inflammation and often improve with standard treatment targeting intestinal inflammation. In contrast, anterior uveitis, ankylosing spondylitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis typically occur independently of disease flares. The incidence of these conditions in individuals with IBD can reach up to 50% of patients over the course of their lifetime. In addition, some advanced therapies utilized for the treatment of IBD potentially result in side effects that may resemble extraintestinal manifestations. This review provides a thorough analysis of the pathophysiology and treatment of extraintestinal manifestations associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.