Primary meningococcal arthritis as initial presentation in a previously undiagnosed HIV-infected patient

South Med J. 2009 Apr;102(4):438-9. doi: 10.1097/SMJ.0b013e31819ba3c0.

Abstract

A 38-year-old African-American male complaining of pain in multiple joints was initially diagnosed with gouty arthritis concurrent with gonococcal septic arthritis. The diagnosis was made based on arthrocentesis results showing Gram-variable cocci and monosodium urate crystals in the synovial fluid. Final blood and synovial fluid cultures confirmed a diagnosis of primary septic arthritis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, serogroup X. Further evaluation revealed a reactive HIV antibody test with enzyme- linked immunoassay (ELISA) confirmed by western blot. His CD4 count was 36 cells/mm and viral load was >500,000 copies/mL. We present a case of primary meningococcal arthritis caused by N meningitidis serogroup X as the initial presentation of a patient with previously undiagnosed HIV.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthritis, Infectious / diagnosis*
  • Arthritis, Infectious / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Infectious / microbiology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningococcal Infections / diagnosis*
  • Meningococcal Infections / drug therapy