[Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] associated arthritis]

ABSTRACT

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] may be associated with different types of arthritis. The oligoarthritis related to human immunodeficiency virus is less frequent, rarely revealing the retrovirus. We report a case illustrating this association with a review of the literature. Patients aged 38 years, followed for myelodysplastic syndrome who developed a subacute oligoarthritis of the knees characterized by functional impairment. The radiograph of both knees were normal. The joint aspiration revealed sterile exudative fluid with lymphocytic predominance. Rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies and HLA B27 were negative. A significant lymphopenia was found, justifying the implementation of serology for human immunodeficiency virus type 1, which returned positive. The CD4 count was a 128/mm3, the viral load of 4,000,000 copies/ ml. the patient was classified as stage C disease and has been received AZT+ 3 TC + Efavirenz, ketoprofen and paracetamol, with disappearance of oligoarthritis after 4 weeks. Aseptic arthritis can occur at any stage of HIV infection, most frequently described in an advanced stage of disease. They are found in 7.8% of cases and are rarely revealing as is the case with our patient, characterized by functional impairment and bone response to anti-inflammatory drugs. The serological testing must be systematic in an etiologic oligoarthritis