Successful use of antitumor necrosis factor-alpha biological therapy in managing human immunodeficiency virus-associated arthritis: Three case studies from Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Arthralgic disorders involving various rheumatic manifestations are commonly observed in HIV patients. Available therapies for HIV-associated rheumatic syndromes include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain management, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (e.g., methotrexate), and antitumor necrosis factor-alpha therapies. However, treatment of HIV-associated arthritis can be challenging, particularly in patients with co-infections like hepatitis viruses, and therapeutic strategies are not well defined. Here, we present three case reports on the use of antitumor necrosis factor-alpha agents for HIV-associated arthritis. We managed three cases of HIV-associated arthritis following initial presentation. All patients were on highly active antiretroviral therapy with stable HIV loads and CD4+ cell counts. Data were reported for treatment of inflammatory arthritis using 5 months of etanercept followed by adalimumab for case 1, and 12 months of etanercept for case 2. In case 3, reactive arthritis was treated with 5 months of etanercept followed by adalimumab. In all three cases, significant improvement or resolution of arthritis was achieved following treatment with antitumor necrosis factor-alpha therapies. Moreover, these case studies demonstrated the safe and effective use of antitumor necrosis factor-alpha agents in HIV patients with hepatitis B and/or C virus co-infection. Our results indicate that antitumor necrosis factor-alpha therapies can be successfully used for HIV-infected patients with stable HIV loads and CD4+ lymphocyte counts.