Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), specifically ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease, has often been associated with the spondyloarthropathies.

A history of IBD is sometimes used by doctors as a symptom in diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis or related disease. The European Spondyloathropathy Study Group (ESSG) even lists it in its classification of spondyloarthropathies. The classification is contained in the book, "Fast Facts: Ankylosing Spondylitis" by Maxime Dougados and Desiree van der Heijde. After inflammatory spinal pain or synovitis, the classification reads: "Family history: first- or second degree relative with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, acute iritis, reactive arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease."

Now a study published in the August 2007 edition of the journal, Arthritis & Rheumatism, helps shine light on the possible genetic link between ankylosing spondylitis and IBD. The study, "A common genetic background for inflammatory bowel disease and ankylosing spondylitis: A genealogic study in Iceland", concludes that, "Patients with AS or IBD in Iceland are significantly more related to each other than are randomly sampled control subjects, in terms of an increased risk of either or both conditions developing in third-degree relatives."

The citizens of the country are very much alike when it comes to having the same environmental, cultural and genetic profile.

It was thought that "Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 50% of their first-degree relatives may have a genetic abnormality that results in subclinical intestinal inflammation." The authors also conclude that, "These findings suggest that one or more undiscovered genetic variants may underlie the risk of both diseases."

References: Arthritis & Rheumatism, Volume 56, Issue 8 , Pages 2633 - 2639

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