P114 A screening tool for the early diagnosis of extraintestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease: the EMAIL questionnaire

A. Busacca, G. Ingrassia Strano, E. Giuffrida, L. Guida, B. Scrivo, L. Carrozza, V. Calvaruso, M. Cappello

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section, University of Palermo, PROMISE, Palermo, Italy

Background

Data on prevalence of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) range from 6% up to 47%. Recently, several red flags and questionnaires have been proposed for early diagnosis of articular manifestations. Our aim was to analyse the prevalence of EIMs in a single-centre prospective cohort, using a comprehensive questionnaire developed by our group to detect all EIMs (EMAIL questionnaire).

Methods

Patients with IBD attending our Clinic from November 2017 to January 2019 were interviewed using a two-part questionnaire, the first part for clinical-demographic data and the second part for EIMs. Patients positive to screening were referred for multidisciplinary approach.

Results

Two hundred and six IBD patients were interviewed, 114 (55.3%) Crohn’s disease (CD) and 92 (44.7%) ulcerative colitis (UC), 52.4% male, mean age 46.7 years (SD ± 15,2). Sixty (53%) CD patients and 48 (52%) UC patients, in total 108, had history of at least one EIM. Articular EIMs were found in 49 patients (24%); peripheral arthritis was found in 14% (29/206), axial arthritis in 9.7% (20 patients): seven patients (3.4%) had ankylosing spondylitis, 13 (6.3%) sacroiliitis. Cutaneous EIMs were detected in 39 patients (19%), erythema nodosum in 15 patients (7.3%), pyoderma gangrenosum in 9 (4.4%), psoriasis in 15 (7.3%) and folliculitis in 7 (3.4%). Ocular EIMs were observed in 35 patients (17%): uveitis in 7 patients (3.4%), conjunctivitis in 8 (3.9%), optic neuritis in 2, glaucoma in 2 patients, cataract in 13 (6,3%), dry eye in 4 (1.9%), central serous chorioretinopathy in 1. Hepatobiliary EIMs were observed in 31 patients (15%): 26 steatosis (12.6%), 5 (2.4%) primary sclerosing cholangitis. Four (2%) patients had DVT. Articular EIMs were more frequent in CD patients (p = 0.001). Skin manifestations were more frequent in female (p = 0.002) in CD (p = 0,032) and related with IBD activity (<0.001). Hepatobiliary manifestations were more frequent in male (p = 0,017) and in UC (p = 0,044). There was a significant correlation between DVT and IBD activity (p = 0,016).

Conclusion

The questionnaire developed by our group proved to be a sensitive screening tool. Articular and cutaneous EIMs are more frequent in CD, hepatobiliary EIMs are more frequent in UC. A gender difference has been found since cutaneous EIMs are more frequent in females, hepatobiliary more in males. Cutaneous EIMs and DVT are related with IBD activity.