Vasculitis In Hiv: Report Of Eight Cases

Abstract

Objective: To Describe Vasculitis In Hiv Patients, Their Cd4 Levels, Anatomical Sites Affected And Clinical Patterns. Design: Prospective, Descriptive Study. Setting: Kisumu District Hospital And Nairobi Rheumatology Clinic Between January 2002 And May 2005. Subjects: Eight Patients With HIV And Vasculitis. Results: Eight Patients (four Males And Four Females) Were Recruited With An Age Range Of 24-61 Years, Mean 33.13 Years. Five Had Central Nervous System Vasculitis And Three Had Peripheral Vasculitis. The Cd4 Counts Were Low, Range 2-200 Cells/mm3 (mean Of 79.25 Cells/mm3), Normal Levels Of Cd4 Are 355-1298 Cells/mm3, Indicating Severe Immunosuppression. Two Patients Tested Positive For Hbv (hepatitis B Virus). Conclusion: HIV Associated Vasculitis is Recognized And May Be Complicated By Co-infection With Hepatitis Viruses. It Occurs At Low Cd4 Counts. Central Nervous System Involvement Is A Common Site. Management Is Multidisciplinary.