TITLE:
Profile of Extra-Digestive Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Hospital Setting in Libreville: A Cross-Sectional Study of 48 Cases (2019-2025)
AUTHORS:
Agnès Angela Engoang, Patrick Dieudonné Nzouto, Patrice Emery Itoudi Bignoumba, Marielle Léida Ngoma Souamy, Gael Lozzi Ngawouma, Mariam Saibou, Inès Flore Maganga Moussavou Taba, Arnaud Eyi Nguema, Monique Mbounja, Arlette Nsegue, Jean Baptiste Moussavou Kombila
KEYWORDS:
IBD, Extra-Intestinal Manifestations, Gabon, Epidemiology
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Gastroenterology,
Vol.16 No.8,
August
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain poorly documented in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Gabon. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological profile in patients with IBD followed at the University Teaching Hospital of Libreville (CHUL). Materials and Method: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2025, including 48 patients followed for IBD at the Hepato-Gastroenterology Department of CHUL. EIMs were classified as ophthalmic, rheumatological, dermatological, and hepatic manifestations. Associated factors were identified by bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression (threshold p Results: Among 48 patients included (sex ratio 2.0; mean age 37.4 ± 11.2 years; 66.7% ulcerative colitis), 79.2% presented at least one EIM. Ophthalmic manifestations were the most frequent (45.8%), dominated by ocular redness (54.5%) and photophobia (22.7%), followed by rheumatological (41.7%), dermatological (10.4%), and hepatic (2.1%) manifestations. In multivariable analysis, active disease flare remained the only factor independently associated with ophthalmic manifestations (p = 0.03) and Crohn’s disease type was the sole independent predictor of rheumatological manifestations (OR 10.22; 95% CI [2.29 - 45.57]; p = 0.002). Conclusion: EIMs of IBD are frequent in our setting, with a predominance of ophthalmic involvement. Systematic ophthalmological screening during active flares and enhanced rheumatological monitoring in all Crohn’s disease patients are warranted.