enteropathic arthropathy enteropathic arthropathy enteropathic arthropathy or enteropathic arthritis refers to acute or subacute arthritis in association with, or as a reaction to, an enteric (usually colonic) inflammatory condition. causes and associations reactive arthritis (reactive to enteric infection) spondyloarthropathies associated with inflammatory bowel disease (crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) malabsorption related: intestinal bypass (jejunoileal) celiac disease whipple's disease collagenous colitis note that reactive arthritis can also occur secondary to urethral infection. in that case, the term enteropathic arthropathy would not be used.