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Peripheral neuropathy in children on stauvudine therapy

Naveen Sankhyan1, Rakesh Lodha, Suvasini Sharma

  • 1Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|May 31, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Peripheral neuropathy is a concern for children on stavudine-based antiretroviral treatment (ART). Regular screening is recommended to detect distal sensory polyneuropathy early in HIV-infected children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Neuroscience
  • Clinical pharmacology

Background:

  • HIV infection in children requires long-term antiretroviral treatment (ART).
  • Stavudine is a component of some ART regimens used in pediatric populations.
  • Peripheral neuropathy is a known potential side effect of certain antiretroviral drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in HIV-infected children over 5 years old.
  • To assess children receiving stavudine-based combination ART for more than 3 months.
  • To evaluate the clinical and electrophysiological manifestations of neuropathy.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Inclusion of 40 HIV-infected children (median age 11.75 years) on stavudine-based ART (median duration 43 months).
  • Comprehensive assessment including medical history, detailed neurological examination, and nerve conduction studies.

Main Results:

  • Nerve conduction studies revealed abnormalities in 10% (4 out of 40) of the children.
  • Two children presented with symptomatic distal sensory polyneuropathy.
  • One child each showed asymptomatic or subclinical distal sensory polyneuropathy.

Conclusions:

  • Distal sensory polyneuropathy is a significant potential complication in children undergoing stavudine-based ART.
  • Periodic clinical evaluation and electrophysiological screening are crucial for early detection of neuropathy in this population.
  • This highlights the need for vigilant monitoring of neurological health in pediatric HIV patients on specific ART regimens.
Abstract

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