[Peripheral neuropathy in HIV infection]

Neuropathy may complicate all stages of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV). Different types of peripheral neuropathy and myelopathy have been reported associated with HIV infection: sensory symmetrical polyneuropathy, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy multiplex, sensory ataxic neuropathy (ganglioneuronitis), cauda equina syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spastic paraparesia, and subclinical neuropathy diagnosed by electrophysiologic study. We describe the main clinical, electrophysiological and pathological features in these different types of neuropathy and comment their pathogenesis and treatment. Results in our series of twenty-two patients are also reported. In this series we want to underline three cases in which a chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy was the first manifestation of HIV infection. Thus, patients with predominantly motor demyelinating neuropathies and suspicious risk factors should be screened for silent HIV infection.