title: Human immunodeficiency virus associated spondyloarthropathy: pathogenic insights based on imaging findings and response to highly active antiretroviral treatment.
abstract: The pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is poorly understood. In this case report a patient is described with severe HIV associated reactive arthritis, who on magnetic resonance imaging and sonographic imaging of inflamed knees had extensive polyenthesitis and adjacent osteitis. The arthritis deteriorated despite conventional antirheumatic treatment, but improved dramatically after highly active antiretroviral treatment, which was accompanied by a significant rise in CD4 T lymphocyte counts. The implications of the localisation of pathology and effect of treatment for pathogenic models of SpA and rheumatoid arthritis in the setting of HIV infection are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University of Leeds, 36 Clarendon Road, Leeds LS2 9NZ, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGonagle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reade
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marzo-Ortega
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gibbon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melsom
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000821:virology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male