A poster presentation from the 2023 Crohn’s and Colitis Congress (Abstract P098) identified that 9.2% of patients with IBD also have rheumatic diseases, highlighting the need for cooperation between gastroenterology and rheumatology specialists in devising treatment regimens, according to a report from MedPage Today. Researchers discovered that among the 228 patients with IBD who were involved in the study, 7.9% (n = 18) of them had ankylosing spondylitis and 1.3% (n = 3) had rheumatoid arthritis. Similarly, in an additional study involving 65,379 patients with IBD, researchers found that 6% also had a rheumatic disease. Patients may experience both conditions as a result of similar genetic and environmental factors that give rise to both autoimmune disorders. They suggested that patients who have both conditions should receive referrals to rheumatologists from their IBD specialists, so that both clinicians can come to an agreement about possible treatment plans. The researchers noted that a delicate balance in therapeutic combinations may be necessary—for example, when treatment is adjusted to address joint pain, patients may experience an IBD flare, and vice versa. “[Patients who have IBD] with extraintestinal disease involving the joints require a careful, holistic, and multidisciplinary approach,” underscored Syed Adeel Hassan, MD, Professor of Digestive Diseases at the University of Kentucky, concluding that “teamwork between gastroenterologists and rheumatologists is imperative for the optimal selection and dosing of agents to help address [both diseases at once].”