Acute arthritis and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Rwanda.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the etiology of acute arthritis observed in adults and to define its relationship with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda.


METHODS
From September 1, 1989 until March 31, 1990 we conducted a study of all new patients admitted with acute arthritis to the outpatient and inpatient services of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Centre Hospitalier de Kigali, in Kigali, Rwanda, a city highly endemic for HIV infection.


RESULTS
Thirty-six patients (27 men 9 women; mean age: 31 years, range 18-65) were included in the study. Twenty-six (72%) were HIV seropositive. Two main diagnostic categories emerged, both strongly associated with HIV infection: (1) aseptic arthritis: 16 (44.5%) patients including 12 (33.5%) patients with spondyloarthropathy of whom 10 (83%) were HIV seropositive, and 4 (11%) patients with HIV related arthritis, (2) septic arthritis: 11 (30%) patients of whom 9 (82%) were HIV seropositive, including 4 with gonococcal, 2 with staphylococcal, 1 with Salmonella B and 2 with tuberculous arthritis.


CONCLUSIONS
In an area highly endemic for HIV, acute arthritis should be considered a possible manifestation of HIV infection and should prompt HIV testing.
Department of Internal Medicine, Centre Hospitalier de Kigali, Rwanda.
P
P
Blanche
H
H
Taelman
A
A
Saraux
J
J
Bogaerts
J
J
Clerinx
J
J
Batungwanayo
A
A
Kagame
D
D
Sicard
C J
CJ
Menkes
P
P
Van de Perre
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*