Dear Doc, I was tested positive in the year 1991 and I've been living with the virus until then without the help of ARVs. My recent CD4 absolute is 594 and CD% is 19.7%. My viral load was below 10000 couple of years before. I'm 42 years old, having 76 Kg body wt. & my height is 5'11". I have not suffered from any major OIs except for some skin infections. Now my problem is symmetrical JOINT PAINS, both knees & elbows. I have undergone test for serum uric acid which shows 5.8 mg/dl; Rheumatoid factor is 4 IU/ml; C-Reactive Protein is 0.3 mg/dl; liver enzymes are also okay; and my complete haemogram report is also okay; ESR (Wstg) shows 22 mm in 1st hr. What could be the possible cause? I'm having problem while even trying to lift a book and when I sit for a long time I get sharp pain when I get up. Also every morning when I get up from the bed I feel so weak and feel exhausted. Kindly suggest.

There are a number of joint-related conditions that are more common in the setting of HIV infection. These include rheumatoid arthritis and also psoriatic arthritis, to name two. It is interesting that psoriatic arthritis also presents with a number of skin cnditions, which could be the "infectiosn" you speak of. Aklos, this type of arthritis affects elbows and knees, so I would really think about this. Talk to your doctor, as there could be quite effective treatments that would be available.