[Extra intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease (author's transl)]

Abstract

The extra intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease (CD) are not devoid of interest. They can, by themselves, aggravate the CD. Some of them have to be searched systematically (urinary complications, spondylarthritis and sacro-iliac arthritis). Amongst our 60 cases of Crohn's disease of the colon or of the ileon and colon, articular manifestations were the most frequent: arthralgias 25 cases (42%), true arthritis 17 cases (28%), spondylarthritis 5 cases, aacro-ileitis 9 cas (13%), finger hippocratism 11 cases (18%). In second cause, the cutaneous manifestations: 29 cases (48%) among which 6 cases (10%) of erytheme nodosa and 9 cases of allergic troubles (15%). Then came ocular troubles (5 cases), jaundice (5 cases). We observed 4 renal lithiasis and an hepatic sarcoïd granuloma revealed by the liver biopsy. Some complications were the local consequence of a local disease (hydronephrosis). Others represented the distant repercussion of a severe chronical intestinal disease. Some were true extra-intestinal localisations of the disease (perineal ulcerations and para-stomal ulcerations). Finally some complications, though non specific of Crohn's disease, evolued in parallel to it (some articular, ocular; dermatologic complications). In some cases they were anterior by several months or years to the intestinal symptoms of Crohn's disease, which suggests the existence of common etiological factors, especially genetical.