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Mucosal Inflammation in Spondylarthritides: Past, Present, and Future

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Abstract

Spondylarthritides (SpA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disorders. Although they are very distinct and well-defined entities, there is clinical and genetic evidence supporting some degree of overlap between the pathogenesis of the two. Subclinical gut inflammation is present in up to two thirds of all SpA patients and can evolve into IBD. This subclinical gut inflammation has been shown to be strongly associated with joint inflammation, providing a clue for a common pathophysiologic background. Despite extensive research progress in the field over the past few years, many questions remain unanswered. In this paper, we focus on the clinical, genetic, and pathophysiologic overlap of SpA and IBD. Furthermore, we discuss some of the targets that may influence therapeutic decision making.

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  1. Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 0K12-IB, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Liesbet Van Praet, Filip Van den Bosch, Herman Mielants & Dirk Elewaut

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  1. Liesbet Van Praet
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  2. Filip Van den Bosch
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Correspondence to Liesbet Van Praet.

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Van Praet, L., Van den Bosch, F., Mielants, H. et al. Mucosal Inflammation in Spondylarthritides: Past, Present, and Future. Curr Rheumatol Rep 13, 409–415 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-011-0198-2

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