TITLE:
Frequency and Etiology of Viral Arthropathies in West African Patients
AUTHORS:
Zavier Zomalheto, Raimi Kpossou, Michée Assogba, Anthelme K. Agbodande, Marcelle Gounongbé
KEYWORDS:
Arthropathy, Viruses, Hepatitis B, HIV, Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.7 No.1,
February
16,
2017
ABSTRACT: Aim: To determine the frequency and etiology of
viral arthritis in West African patients at the National Hospital University Hubert
Koutoukou Maga of Cotonou. Patients and Methods: It was a cross-sectional
descriptive study carried out from January 2010 to July 2014 on patients
received in rheumatology, hepato-gastroenterology, pediatric and internal
medicine units. The selected patients had viral arthropathy. The diagnosis of
viral arthritis was based on the presence of arthralgia or arthritis in the
context of a viral infection. Patients with insufficiently explored records
were excluded. Results: Among 4361 patients consulted, 49 (1.12%) had a viral
arthropathy. The mean age of the patients was 49.13 ± 17.1 [15 - 68] years. The
sex ratio was 0.58 (31 F/18 H). 38 patients were from Benin, 5 from Nigeria, 3
from Togo, 2 from Mali and 1 from Cote d’Ivoire. Joint symptoms were dominated
by polyarthritis (n = 24 cases) and polyarthrlagias (n = 18 cases).
Extra-articular signs present were dominated by fever (100%), skin signs (n =
37 cases), flu symptoms (n = 23 cases) and liver disorder (n = 19 cases).
Viruses diagnosed were dominated by hepatitis B (n = 17), varicella-zona (n =
8) and HIV (n = 14). Conclusion: Viral arthropathy diagnosis is relatively
common in West African patients especially
with the HIV. This occurs as arthralgias or arthritis. The diagnosis is
difficult in our working condition.