Musculoskeletal and joint manifestations in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients

With the increase in the number of human immunodeficiency virus positive patients, more and more patients are referred with musculoskeletal or joint manifestations. It is important to differentiate between various causes resulting in musculoskeletal or joint manifestations. In this prospective study 30 patients out of 569 human immune deficiency virus positive patients presented with musculoskeletal or joint manifestations (incidence being 5.27%), simple arthralgia was the most common manifestation in 16 patients. Reactive arthritis was diagnosed in 6 patients and infective arthritis in 5 patients. After the treatment 16 patients had complete recovery, 9 patients had partial recovery and 3 patients had no recovery of joint manifestation. One patient expired due to septicaemia and another lost to follow-up.