Author(s)

Zavier Zomalheto^1*, Raimi Kpossou², Michée Assogba³, Anthelme K. Agbodande⁴, Marcelle Gounongbé¹

¹Department of Rheumatology in the National Hospital University “Hubert Koutoukou Maga” of Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin.
²Hepato-Gastroenterology Department in the National Hospital University “Hubert Maga Koutoukou” of Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin.
³Department of Peadiatric of the National Hospital University “Hubert Maga Koutoukou” of Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin.
⁴Department of Internal Medicine of the National Hospital University “Hubert Maga Koutoukou” of Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin.

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.

Arthropathy, Viruses, Hepatitis B, HIV, Africa

Zomalheto, Z. , Kpossou, R. , Assogba, M. , Agbodande, A. and Gounongbé, M. (2017) Frequency and Etiology of Viral Arthropathies in West African Patients. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases, 7, 96-101. doi: 10.4236/ojra.2017.71008.