Sensory motor neuropathy associated with AIDS

Clinical, laboratory, and pathologic observations in six patients with sensory motor peripheral neuropathy associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are presented. Blood and urine testing failed to reveal other causes for peripheral neuropathy. Distinctive CSF findings included elevated human immunodeficiency virus-specific indices. Peripheral nerve pathology confirmed the results of electrodiagnostic studies and revealed axonal loss and demyelination. Epineurial and endoneurial mononuclear infiltrates were present in three patients, and in one with early neuropathy, retroviral-like particles were present in peripheral nerve axoplasm. The findings indicate that in some patients with AIDS, neuropathy may be the direct result of a viral insult, although the causes are likely multifactorial.