Human immunodeficiency virus—associated myopathy: Analysis of 11 patients

✍ Scribed by Dr. David M. Simpson; Adam N. Bender

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 671 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0364-5134
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.410240114

✦ Synopsis

Neuromuscular disorders reported in association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection include several forms of peripheral neuropathy and polymyositis. We report 1 1 patients with HIV-associated myopathy. Five patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 2 with AIDS-related complex, and 4 otherwise asymptomatic HIV-infected patients developed progressive proximal muscle weakness. Serum creatine phosphokinase levels were elevated and electromyography revealed abnormal spontaneous activity and myopathy in most patients. All 8 muscle biopsy specimens showed fiber necrosis. Four had inflammatory infiltrates, and nemaline rod bodies were prominent in 3. Immunosuppressant therapy in 5 patients resulted in improvement. Attempts at viral localization in 4 muscle biopsy specimens were unsuccessful. These findings suggest a distinct association between HIV infection and myopathy with features atypical for polymyositis.