Severe Pancolitis Presenting with Sacroiliitis: A Case Highlighting the Gut-Joint Axis in Ulcerative Colitis

Case Reports in Gastroenterology · Published 2026-07-16 · DOI 10.1159/000553611

Free full text

Authors (9)

Sameera Hajijama, Abdullatif Sheikh Ibrahim, Hawa Ali Jama, Hamza Shikh, Nagoud Ali, Abdulrahman Rafat A Samman, Abdulahi M. Aden, Melmed Y. Gil, Nezar Y. Albar

Abstract

We describe a 32-year-old man without gastrointestinal symptoms who presented with chronic fatigue and a two-week history of severe lower back pain. MRI revealed bilateral sacroiliitis, and positive fecal inflammatory markers led to colonoscopy, which showed pancolitis. Further histopathological testing confirmed the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC). He was treated with upadacitinib to address both conditions, resulting in significant improvement in symptoms and inflammatory markers within two months. This case emphasizes the importance of considering inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in uncommon extraintestinal presentations.

Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).

Read the article at the publisher →

Publication details

Year
2026

Citation

Hajijama, S., Ibrahim, A., Jama, H., et al. (2026). Severe Pancolitis Presenting with Sacroiliitis: A Case Highlighting the Gut-Joint Axis in Ulcerative Colitis. Case Reports in Gastroenterology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000553611

Related articles