Rheumatological and Immunological Manifestations among a Cohort of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Egyptian Patients

Abstract

he human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a subgroup of retrovirus) that is able to persist in the form of integrated proviruses in a predominantly CD4 T cell reservoir causing HIV infection and over time acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive leading to huge burdens to person, family and community Egypt is classified as having a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS, WHO has estimated the national prevalence of HIV infection in Egypt by <0.01 in the year 2019. Many prevention programs specifically for IDUs existed in Egypt, including harm reduction programs such as needle exchange and methadone maintenance. The incidence of rheumatic manifestations in HIV infection was reported to be much more prevalent in HIV patients than the HIV negative population, also unrelated rheumatologic disorders whose course have been altered by HIV infection. Risk factors such as unsafe sexual practices and intravenous drug use are associated with HIV infection and certain rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic manifestations in HIV infection include body ache, arthralgia, painful articular syndrome, reactive arthritis, HIV-associated arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), fibromyalgia, septic arthritis, acute gout, avascular bone necrosis, osteoporosis, osteomyelitis, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, pyomyositis, Sjogren's syndrome, diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS), vasculitis, Kaposi's sarcoma, and lymphoma.