Muscle biopsy in AIDS and ARC: analysis of 50 patients

We report a large spectrum of histological muscle abnormalities in 50 homosexual men with AIDS and ARC. We encountered moth-eaten fibers in 76%, angulated fibers in 76%, type groupings in 62%, type 2 fiber atrophy in 58%, mononuclear endomysial and/or perimysial and/or perivascular infiltrates in 36%, necrosis and phagocytosis in 30% and target fibers in 6%. Two patients showed vasculitis and two others showed perifascicular atrophy. On the whole, 96% of the biopsies showed substantial abnormalities. Muscle involvement in AIDS seems more common than previously suspected.