Which statement is true about enteropathic arthritis?

• A. It is not related to gut disease
• B. It is only seen in the elderly
• C. It is associated with Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis
• D. It only affects the hands

Answer: (C)

Enteropathic arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition that occurs in people with inflammatory bowel disease, most commonly Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. The joint inflammation mirrors the gut disease, making it an extraintestinal manifestation of IBD. It can show up as peripheral arthritis, often in a few large joints of the legs, and it can also affect the spine and sacroiliac joints (axial involvement). It is not limited to a particular age and is not restricted to the hands; multiple joints in the knees, ankles, and feet, as well as the spine, can be involved. Because it is tied to the intestinal inflammation, treatment usually addresses both the bowel disease and the arthritis, sometimes with therapies that help both conditions, such as anti-TNF agents. This connection to Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis is what makes the statement true.