Considerations for undiagnosed patients

Healthcare professional holding a tablet while speaking with a patient

Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) or complications associated with IBD

Overview

Definition

Non-gastrointestinal symptoms of IBD are called EIMs. Recognizing and understanding EIMs is critical, as they contribute to the overall clinical picture of IBD and impact patients’ functional status and quality of life. EIMs may occur prior to or in conjunction with intestinal symptoms of IBD.

Potential EIMs

EIMs of IBD are common and occur in multiple organ systems, such as joints, eyes, and skin. The table below lists potential EIMs that may be detected in primary care.

Organ system/site	Selected EIMs or complications
Joints	Arthritis, arthralgia
Eyes	Uveitis, keratopathy, dry eyes
Liver	Fatty liver disease, hepatitis, gallstones, primary sclerosing cholangitis
Skin	Erythema nodosum, pyoderma gangrenosum, enterocutaneous fistulas, anal fissures, aphthous stomatitis
Kidneys	Kidney stones, hydronephrosis, fistulas, glomerulonephritis

Illustration of a healthcare professional with a laptop and paperwork

IBD Primary Care Toolkit

Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates provided financial sponsorship for this toolkit. They were not members of the steering committee. The steering committee approved the suggested edits made by Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates to provide accuracy and balance.

The material in this toolkit is intended only as informational or as an educational aid and is not intended to replace clinical practice or be taken as medical advice. The ultimate responsibility for patient care resides with a healthcare professional.

By clicking on the links in the toolkit you will be taken to a third-party website where our Privacy Statement does not apply. You are solely responsible for your interactions with such websites.

We encourage you to read the Privacy Statement of every website you visit.

Quick Links

Last updated in March 2026.
03/26 cp-547076v1