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 disappearance of arthritis and tendinitis after removal of the pouch strongly suggests their relationship. The pathogenesis of arthritis in pouchitis has not been elucidated but may be the same as in ulcerative colitis. 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.