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Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Pure Motor Lumbosacral Polyradiculopathy
Michael G. Benatar, MBChB, DPhil;
Roland W. Eastman, MBChB, FRCP
Arch Neurol. 2000;57:1034-1039.
Background Neuromuscular disease is a common manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, but isolated and severe pathology confined to the motor roots or anterior horn cells are not a recognized clinical entity.
Objective To describe the novel clinical presentation of human immunodeficiency virus–related polyradiculopathy manifesting as isolated severe motor symptoms confined to the legs.
Design A case series comprising 4 patients identified prospectively during a 6-month period.
Setting Patients were seen in the Department of Neurology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. This is an 800-bed teaching hospital, with approximately 5000 patients seen annually in the Department of Neurology.
Patients Patients were identified by their unique presentation with a severe isolated motor neuropathy in the lower limbs. All were Xhosa-speaking African women.
Result Early human immunodeficiency virus infection may be associated with pure motor lumbosacral polyradiculopathy.
Conclusion It remains unclear whether this clinical syndrome should be regarded as a variant of the Guillain-Barré syndrome or whether it represents a unique disorder associated with early human immunodeficiency virus infection.
From the Department of Neurology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Dr Benatar is now with the Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Mass.
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