General Characteristics of the Patients Diagnosed with Enteropathic Arthritis (ENA) whose Treatment Have Been Performed With Biological Agents

Abstract

Introduction: Spondylarthritis (SpA) comprises multiple divergent forms of inflammatory arthritis. ENA ranks in SpA group. It is aimed to present the features of 33 ENA cases which have been being monitored in our clinic, in this study.
 Method: Demographical and clinical features, presentation forms, of the 33 ENA cases who sought medical service in our polyclinic and diagnosed with ENA and treated with biological agents, have been recorded. It has been interrogated before biological agents treatment whether conventional DMARD’s (Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) were used.
 Results: Sixteen of the patients ( 48.4%) have been females, whereas 17 of them ( 51.6%) have been males. Eleven of the patients ( 33.3%) have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, whereas 22 of them (66.7%) with ulcerative colitis. Eighteen patients ( 54.5%) have presented with joint complaints and 13 of them ( 39.4%) with bowel complaints. The inquiry of the pre-treatments before the biological agents presented that 23 of them ( 69.7%) used nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID’s). Seventeen of the patients ( 51.5%) have used NSAID’s after IBD diagnosis whereas 4 patients ( 12.1%) had IBD inflammation symptoms as bleeding and diearrhea due to NSAID’s use after IBD diagnosis.
 Conclusion: Since there is a close link between SpA and ENA, patients should also be monitored in the aspect of bowel symptoms during the SpA course. It is needed to take into account the activation of intestinal symptoms as well, while deciding on the treatment of the patients with enteropathic arthritis.