Is inflammatory joint disease in HIV-infected patients a form of spondyloarthropathy?

UNLABELLED

In Congo-Brazzaville, the seroprevalence of HIV infection is in the range 7-8%, and AIDS is the leading cause of aseptic arthritis (60% of cases).

PATIENTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: The ESSG and Amor's criteria for spondyloarthropathy were evaluated in 83 patients with HIV infection admitted for aseptic arthritis to the rheumatology department of the Brazzaville teaching hospital, over an 8-year period.

RESULTS

All 83 patients were CDC stage IV; 66 (80%) had polyarthritis and 17 (20%) oligoarthritis. A single patient met ESSG and Amor's criteria, with six points; one patient had five points and 15 had three points. The joint involvement was asymmetrical and nonerosive. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory therapy ensured resolution of the manifestations within 4-8 weeks. The most common sites of involvement were the knees (84%), ankles (59%), and great toes (23%) at the lower limbs and the wrists (41%), elbows (29%), and metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints (25%) at the upper limbs.

CONCLUSION

Inflammatory arthritis in HIV patients does not meet ESSG or Amor's criteria for spondyloarthropathy.