To compare human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-uninfected children with arthritis of unknown origin to determine whether the association between HIV infection and arthritis is causal or coincidental.
Retrospective review of 132 children with arthritis who were tested for HIV infection.
Thirty-five (27%) of the children were HIV infected and the male to female ratio was 2.5:1 (P = 0.02). Arthritis was the presenting feature of HIV infection in 78% of these children. The remaining 97 (73%) were diagnosed as having juvenile idiopathic arthritis. 'Spondyloarthropathy-like' features were found in 34% of HIV-infected children compared with 5% of uninfected children.
The high prevalence of HIV infection in 27% of children, the predominance of males and the increased prevalence of 'spondyloarthropathy-like' features, supports a causal relationship between HIV infection and arthritis.