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Polyradiculoneuropathy in transfusion-associated AIDS and dorsal root pathology
Texas Medicine
|February 1, 1989
Summary
A painful nerve disorder (polyradiculoneuropathy) in a woman improved with plasmapheresis. Later, she was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, linked to a blood transfusion, with nerve damage found postmortem.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Subacute polyradiculoneuropathy can present with significant neurological deficits.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection can manifest with diverse neurological complications.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman presented with a painful subacute polyradiculoneuropathy.
- Her neurological symptoms showed dramatic improvement following plasmapheresis treatment.
Findings:
- Serologic evidence of HIV infection was identified months after initial presentation.
- The HIV infection was traced to a contaminated blood transfusion received three years prior.
- Postmortem examination revealed pathology predominantly affecting the dorsal nerve roots.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential, albeit rare, neurological presentation of HIV infection.
- It underscores the importance of considering iatrogenic transmission of infections, including HIV.
- The findings suggest a possible link between HIV and dorsal root pathology, potentially exacerbated by transfusion-related events.