Cutaneous vasculitis and inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

Extraintestinal manifestations occur in up to 40% of patients living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may precede the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms by many years. Vasculitides are considered rare cutaneous manifestations, but they often represent an important cause of morbidity and a relevant diagnostic issue in IBD. In addition, the increasing use of biological therapies for IBD may also play a pivotal role in the development of vascular disorders of different type. Hence, we provide a complete and in-depth review of the main features of cutaneous vasculitides observed in IBD, with a specific focus on their clinical presentation and possible pathophysiological mechanisms.