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Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are severe digestive tract diseases with clinical, pathological or epidemilogical features with partially clarified and complex causes. Etiopathogenic factors most frequently described in the literature are immunological abnormalities, associated with genetic susceptibility and the interraction between environmental factors, microbial agents with the immune intestinal system. Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affect the intestine, but both are associated with multiple extradigestive events, among which cardiovascular damage is not unfrequently seen, but not easily recognised. Endocarditis and subendocardial abscesses may arise due to sepsis or progonged use of paranteral catheters and/or immunosuppressive agents. Myocarditis or perimyocarditis occur due to autoimmune mechanisms during the exacerbations of the digestive disease or as side effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid, ulcerative colitis having a higher risk for this complication comparing to Crohn's disease. Pericardial involvement seems to be the most common type of cardiovascular complication in digestive inflamatory diseases, caused by drugs (5-ASA, azathioprine, ciclosporine), pericardio-colonic fistulae or idiopathic. Pericarditis may sometimes be the main sign of the disease. Thromboembolic complications and coronary disease may also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]