HIV and Rheumatic Disease

Overview

People living with HIV can develop a range of joint, muscle, and bone problems, including inflammatory arthritis, muscle pain and weakness, and inflamed blood vessels. These symptoms sometimes appear before HIV itself is diagnosed, so unexplained joint or muscle symptoms can be a reason to test for the virus. Some of these problems come from HIV's effect on the immune system, while others can be side effects of the medications used to treat HIV, including gout and a reaction called immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome that can occur after starting treatment.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Could my joint or muscle pain be related to HIV, or to the medications I'm taking for it?
• Which specific rheumatic condition do you think is causing my symptoms, and how did you arrive at that diagnosis?
• Will starting or adjusting my antiretroviral therapy affect my joint symptoms one way or the other?
• Are anti-inflammatory medications or immunosuppressants safe for me to take given my HIV status?
• Would physical therapy help protect my joints and prevent them from becoming deformed over time?

Getting Care

A rheumatologist can evaluate joint, muscle, and blood vessel symptoms in someone with HIV, working alongside the HIV specialist managing antiretroviral therapy. Seek care sooner if you develop a hot, swollen joint, new eye pain or redness, or muscle weakness that's getting worse, since these can need urgent evaluation.

Source: https://rheumatology.org/patients/hiv-and-rheumatic-disease