title: Chronic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated arthritis: a synovial ultrastructural study.
abstract: We describe a patient who developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex, complicated by chronic, symmetric polyarthritis. Synovial biopsy showed large areas of plasma cell infiltration subjacent to the synovial lining. Ultrastructural study demonstrated tubuloreticular structures within endothelial cells, crystal-like inclusions in plasma cells, and virus-like particles located around synoviocyte fragments. Although immunologic and morphologic studies did not permit classification of these virus-like structures, the role of these possible virions in the pathogenesis of the observed synovitis remains to be determined. Surprisingly, the patient's chronic arthritis resolved with anti-retroviral treatment (azidothymidine: AZT).
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Erasmus Hospital, University of Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bentin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feremans
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pasteels
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hauzeur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Appelboom
mesh_terms: D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000175:diagnosis; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015215:Zidovudine