NEUROMUSCULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) INFECTION

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection often causes neuromuscular disorders, at all stages of the disease. These disorders have diverse etiologies, including HIV infection itself, immune system dysregulation, co-morbidities, opportunistic infections and lymphomas in the context of immunosuppression, and side effects of medication. In recent years, with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), the life expectancy of HIV patients, at least in developed countries, has approached that of the general population. Thus, HIV patients also develop chronic diseases that affect the peripheral nervous system, such as polyneuropathy. This review summarizes the major neuromuscular manifestations of HIV infection in the HAART era. Conditions more frequent in the past but still found in patients diagnosed at an advanced stage of the HIV infection are also mentioned.