Assess the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the onset of rheumatic manifestations in HIV+ patients, and to compare them with a control HIV- group with similar risk factors.
We prospectively studied 74 consecutive HIV+ patients, looking for clinical and laboratory findings of rheumatic manifestations and compared them with 72 control subjects with similar risk factors for HIV who tested negative for HIV.
Rheumatic manifestations were more frequently observed in the HIV+ group than the HIV-group (p < 0.001): Arthralgias were found in 34 (45%), arthritis in 8 (10%), and Reiter's syndrome in 6 (8%). Laboratory findings revealed rheumatoid factor in 16 (21%) HIV+ vs 2 (2%) in HIV-, antinuclear antibodies in 13 (17%) HIV+ vs 0 in HIV-, IgG anticardiolipin antibodies in 70 (94%) HIV+ vs 7 (9%) in HIV- (p < 0.001). Hyperuricemia was found in 31 HIV+ patients (41%), and hypouricemia in 4 (5%), compared with none in the HIV- group (p < 0.0001). Neoplasia were identified in 13 HIV+ patients, in 7 associated with hyperuricemia and 3 with hypouricemia. Of interest, 2 patients had urate abnormalities before the diagnosis of neoplasia.
This study was conducted to assess the impact of HIV infection on the onset of rheumatic manifestations in HIV+ patients and to compare them with a control HIV- group with similar risk factors.  74 consecutive HIV+ patients were therefore studied prospectively, with researchers looking for clinical and laboratory findings of rheumatic manifestations.  These cases were compared against 72 control subjects with similar risk factors for HIV who tested negative for HIV.  The results suggest that rheumatic manifestations are more prevalent in HIV+ patients.  Further, in advanced HIV infection, hypo and hyperuricemia may be considered markers of neoplasia.  Specifically, rheumatic manifestations were found more frequently in the HIV+ group than in the HIV- group:  arthralgia were found in 45%, arthritis in 10%, and Reiter's syndrome in 8%.  Rheumatoid factor was found in 21% of the HIV+ group and 2% in the HIV- group, antinuclear bodies in 17% of the HIV+ group versus none in the HIV- group, and IgG anticardiolipin antibodies in 94% of the HIV+ group and 9% of the HIV- group.  Hyperuricemia was observed in 31 HIV+ patients and hypouricemia in 4, compared with none in the HIV- group.  Neoplasia were observed in 13 HIV+ patients.  Two patients had urate abnormalities before the diagnosis and neoplasia.
Our study suggests that rheumatic manifestations are more prevalent in HIV+ patients. In advanced HIV infection, hypo and hyperuricemia may be considered markers of neoplasia.