Peripheral neuropathies in human immunodeficiency virus infection. A prospective study of 56 patients

Neurologic disorders are common in patients infected with HIV1. Judging from reported cases, the central nervous system would be more frequently involved than the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The purpose of the present prospective study was to ascertain the incidence and the nature of PNS disorders in patients infected with HIV1. Fifty-six patients asymptomatic carriers: 5; persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL): 13; AIDS related complex (ARC): 9 and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): 29] were submitted to clinical and laboratory investigations and 52 underwent electromyogram and nerve conduction velocity tests. CSF was examined in 29 and nerve biopsies in 28. Our findings showed that a PNS impairment was present in 50/56 patients i.e. 89 p. 100. It was mainly a moderate sensory polyneuropathy, more often at the subclinical (29/50: 58 p. 100) than at the clinical (21/50: 42 p. 100) level. It concerned asymptomatic carriers (2/5) as well as PGL (11/13), ARC (8/9) and AIDS (29/29) patients. These data show that peripheral nerves are a target for HIV1.