Extraintestinal Manifestations of IBD: A Patient Map
Content note: Educational content aligned with publicly available patient materials from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and other major IBD education sources. Content is used under license from the Foundation for patient education; the Foundation does not endorse IBDPal or MediVue products or services. Last reviewed June 2026. Not individual medical advice.
Educational use only. IBDPal does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your gastroenterologist or IBD care team for personal decisions.
Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) are IBD-related problems outside the intestine. They do not replace a gastroenterologist's judgment, but naming the map helps you report symptoms earlier.
Common sites
- Joints: peripheral arthritis, axial / AS patterns, leg and knee pain
- Eyes: uveitis and eye inflammation
- Skin: erythema nodosum and pyoderma, psoriasis overlap
- Liver and bile ducts: PSC, autoimmune hepatitis themes
- Mouth: canker sores and oral IBD
- Bones and clots: bone health, clot risk awareness
What to do with this map
Track which symptoms rise with gut flares and which stay independent. Bring dates, photos of skin lesions (if appropriate), and a medicine list to clinic. Use autoimmune associations for the wider reading list.
Seek urgent care guidance for
- Sudden vision change or painful light-sensitive eye
- Rapidly expanding painful skin ulcer
- Chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or one-sided leg swelling
- Yellowing skin with fever or severe abdominal pain
Related: red flags hub, autoimmune overlap.
Read the full interactive version on ibdpal.org.