The symptoms of autonomic dysfunction in HIV-positive Africans

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with autonomic neuropathy. The resultant autonomic dysfunction impairs quality of life and can have fatal consequences. Our aim was to clearly define the symptoms of autonomic dysfunction in African HIV-positive patients and determine whether these symptoms were related with (a) autonomic reflex responses (b) the degree of immunosupression.

Methods

Thirty-one HIV-positive treatment-naïve African patients (mean CD4 cell count 269.5 ± 253.4/mm³) and 12 healthy controls completed a detailed questionnaire (Autonomic System Profile, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) relating to specific symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. After completion of the questionnaire, subjects underwent a standard battery of autonomic reflex tests.

Results

The autonomic symptom score was higher in the male HIV-positive patients (26.7 ± 14.7 points) and female patients with CD4 <200/mm³ (24.7 ± 18.0) than sex-matched controls (male controls, 9.9 ± 6.8, P < 0.05; female controls, 8.8 ± 10.1; P < 0.05). Six patients had scores indicative of severe autonomic dysfunction (>43.8 points). The most common autonomic symptoms were: orthostatic intolerance, secretomotor and gastrointestinal dysfunction. There was no relationship between CD4 cell counts and autonomic symptom scores. The blood pressure response to sustained handgrip was blunted, but all other cardiovascular reflex tests were within the normal range or borderline.

Conclusion

African HIV-positive patients report symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, despite normal or borderline autonomic reflex responses.