OBJECTIVE:

To draw attention to arthritis that developed in patients who underwent total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch construction for ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS:

The course of 4 patients who developed arthritis for the first time after ileal-anal pouch anastomosis is described. In addition, the relationship to the chronic inflammation of the pouch-pouchitis-is discussed.

RESULTS:

The clinical manifestations were very similar to seronegative arthritis affecting mainly the joints of the lower extremities. It was accompanied by enthesopathy (2 patients) and by sacroiliitis (2 patients). All had active pouchitis. The abnormal laboratory test results were nonspecific, indicating chronic inflammation. All 4 patients tested negative for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27, and none had other concomitant extraintestinal manifestations. Steroids rapidly improved both the arthritis and pouchitis; however, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were required to maintain remission with minimal daily steroids. Flares of the arthritis were always associated with active pouchitis, but the opposite was not necessarily true.

CONCLUSIONS:

Arthritis related to ileal pouchitis after total colectomy for UC has many similarities to the arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease and should be added to the list of enteropathic arthropathies.