[Motor neuron disease and HIV]

Motor-neuron disease, in particular its commonest form (lateral amyotrophic sclerosis) is a degenerative disease of unknown aetiology and inexorable course with an estimated incidence of 0.4-1.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. In recent years great efforts have been made to discover the aetiopathogenesis of this disorder, studying genetic, viral, endocrine, toxic factors, etc. We present the case of a 30 year old man who started to develop a clinical condition compatible with motor-neuron disease 18 months after diagnosis of HIV. An extensive differential diagnosis was considered in view of this past history. Complementary tests considered necessary for diagnosis of motor-neurone disease and for exclusion of other neurological conditions related to HIV were done. After 16 months of follow-up the condition has become a clear case of ELA type motor neurone disease with no further HIV-related pathology. We discuss questions concerning the aetiopathology of the disease, based on the currently accepted viral hypothesis and describe recent findings related to both.