In the current era of effective Anti retroviral therapy (ART), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection becoming a chronic illness, there has been a gradual rise in the prevalence of rheumatic manifestations associated with this disease. These are characterized by a modified clinical course and widened spectrum of a few emerging rheumatic manifestations seen with HIV infection.
To assess the type, frequency, prevalence and clinical spectrum of rheumatic manifestations among &male patients followed at an HIV clinic of a tertiary care defence hospital.
All male patients with confirmed HIV infection at the study centre were studied after obtaining informed consent. A detailed history was taken including the date of seropositivity, symptoms of rheumatic disease, family history of rheumatic illness, and treatment history with ART. A detailed general and systemic examination was performed and rheumatic symptoms guided appropriate investigations were carried out on as required basis.
879 confirmed HIV cases were evaluated for rheumatic manifestations during the study period. Of these 499 cases were newly detected HIV cases and the rest 380 were old cases on follow up. Rheumatic disorders were diagnosed in 16 cases (1.82%). Spondyloarthropathy was the commonest presentation i.e. 5 out of 16 cases (31.25 % of the rheumatic disorders). Mean age was 37 years (range 27-52 yrs). 2 patients of the study group had the rheumatic illness prior to detection of HIV. Psoriatic Arthritis (0.114 %) was seen in 1 patient who was HLA B-27 negative. Reactive arthritis (0.227 %) was noted in 2 patients. 1 patient had cutaneous small vessel vasculitis (0.114 %), whereas 1 of the patient developed DLE (0.114 %) over neck. HIV related non specific polyarthritis (0.114 %) of the large joints was noted in 1 patient who was RF negative, while polyarthralgia (0.340 %) was noted in 3 patients. 10 patients (60 %) had CD 4 count &lt; 200 cells/ µL, whereas 6 patients had a CD 4 count between 200 and 500 cells/µL. 13 out of 16 patients detected to have rheumatic illnesses were on ART.
With the advent of ART, the clinical spectrum of HIV infection is changing as a chronic treatable disease. Present study consisting mainly adult males, showed only 1.82 % prevalence of rheumatic disorders in HIV infection. Early diagnosis, availability of ART and prompt treatment of opportunistic infections have changed the clinical profile of HIV patients. Impact of ART in producing and affecting the clinical spectrum of rheumatic disease has to be kept in mind while treating HIV-infected patients.