ILEAL POUCH ARTHRITIS - A CASE-REPORT

A patient is described with arthritis of both wrists and tendinitis of one achilles tendon in the presence of severe pouchitis. The rapid di sappearance of arthritis and tendinitis after removal of the pouch str ongly suggests their relationship. The pathogenesis of arthritis in po uchitis has not been elucidated but may be the same as in ulcerative c olitis. Rheumatologists should be aware of the occurrence of arthritis in patients with ulcerative colitis after the construction of an ileo -anal anastomosis with a so-called pouch.