Spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease: towards a more severe and refractory disease phenotype

Objectives: The coexistence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study aimed to compare clinical characteristics and treatment profiles of patients with both SpA and IBD (SpA/IBD) to those with SpA or IBD alone. Methods: We performed a single-centre observational study including 62 consecutive patients with SpA/IBD followed between 2019 and 2022. Patients met Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society 2009 criteria for SpA and had confirmed IBD. Demographics, clinical features, imaging, and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) usage were collected. For comparison, we included 100 patients with a single diagnosis of SpA or IBD, representing the Maladies Inflammatoires SysTémIques Chroniques cohort enrolled over the same period. Results: < .05). Conclusions: Patients with SpA/IBD exhibit more severe disease and therapeutic challenges, highlighting the need for tailored management and consideration of earlier combination biologic therapies.