What Is Enteropathic Arthritis?

E nteropathic arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by peripheral joint disease that also involves the attachments sites for tendons at joints, called entheses, and is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling and loss of motion.

Q: How is enteropathic arthritis classified?

A: Enteropathic arthritis is a form of arthritis classified as one of the group of seronegative spondyloarthropathies, which also includes psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and idiopathic ankylosing spondylitis.

Enteropathic arthritis is associated with the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.  Joint involvement also occurs with other gastrointestinal diseases such as Whipple’s disease, celiac disease, and following intestinal bypass surgery for morbid obesity.¹

What Is Enteropathic Arthritis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

1. Holden W, Orchard T, Wordsworth P. Enteropathic arthritis. Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America. Aug 2003;29(3):513-30,viii. [↩]

What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?

P soriatic arthritis is a joint manifestation of psoriasis, a systemic autoimmune disease, characterized by asymmetric involvement in one or more joints, especially affecting the distal phalangeal joints of fingers and toes (joints nearest nails).

In some patients, psoriatic arthritis can occur only with peripheral enthesitis which is inflammation where tendons insert into bone, particularly Achilles tendinitis and plantar fascitis, and/or dactylitis. Dactylitis is inflammation of the entire toe, also called “sausage toe.”¹

Early treatment is crucial to symptom control. Even a 6-month delay from symptom onset to the first visit with a rheumatologist contributes to the development of peripheral joint erosions and worse long-term physical function.²

Q: Does psoriatic arthritis get worse when skin symptoms get worse?

A: Joint symptoms may coincide with exacerbations and remissions of skin symptoms.

What Is Psoriatic Arthritis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

1. Salvarani C, Cantini F, Olivieri I, Macchioni P, Niccoli L, Padula A, Ferri S, Portioli I. Isolated peripheral enthesitis and/or dactylitis: a subset of psoriatic arthritis. J Rheumatol. 1997 Jun;24(6):1106-10. [↩]
2. Haroon M, Gallagher P, Fitzgerald O. Diagnostic delay of more than 6 months contributes to poor radiographic and functional outcome in psoriatic arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Feb 13. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204858. [↩]

What Is Recurrent Monoarthritis?

R ecurrent monoarthritis is a joint disorder characterized by pain and inflammation involving just one peripheral joint (elbow, hand, knee, ankle, foot, or hip).

What Is Recurrent Monoarthritis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

A small cavity between villi extending into the epithelial surface of the small intestine.

A parasite that can cause gastrointestinal infection and diarrhea.

Sudden, repeated attacks of severe vomiting, nausea, and physical exhaustion with no apparent cause that occur in children and adults, but more often in children. Attacks can last from a few hours to 10 days.… 

The tube that carries bile from the gallbladder into the common bile duct.

A blockage of the cystic duct, often caused by gallstones.

The passage of bowel contents through the rectum and anus.

Loss of fluids from the body, sometimes caused by diarrhea. It may result in the loss of important salts and minerals.