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


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.


CONCLUSIONS
Inflammatory arthritis in HIV patients does not meet ESSG or Amor's criteria for spondyloarthropathy.
Rheumatology Department, Brazzaville Teaching Hospital, CHU de Brazzaville, B.P. 32, Brazzaville, Congo. h.ntsiba@voila.fr
Honoré
H
Ntsiba
N
N
Lamini
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003223:Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012219:Rheumatology; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*