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Human immunodeficiency virus—associated myopathy: Analysis of 11 patients
Author(s) -
Simpson David M.,
Bender Adam N.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410240114
Subject(s) - polymyositis , muscle biopsy , medicine , myopathy , asymptomatic , pathology , inflammatory myopathy , biopsy , myositis , peripheral neuropathy , muscle weakness , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology
Neuromuscular disorders reported in association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection include several forms of peripheral neuropathy and polymyositis. We report 11 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.