| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Abstract | | Title: Quantitative sensory testing (QST) in men seropositive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). | | Authors: Gulevich SJ, Kalmijn JA, McCutchan JA, Chandler J, Atkinson JH, Grant I, Thal LJ | | Year: 1992 | | Publication: Neurology | | Volume: 42 Issue: Suppl. Pages: 467 | | Abstract:Objective. To determine the prevalence and relationship to immune status of subclinical neuropathy in HIV infection.
Background. Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) frequently develop peripheral neuropathy (PN). We investigated subclinical PN with QST.
Design/Methods. Vibratory threshold (VT) was determined using QST in the right great toe and index finger of 179 men seropositive for HIV (28 AIDS or AIDS-related complex [ARC], 151 asymptomatic) and 32 HIV-seronegative controls. None had clinical PN. Abnormal threshold was control mean plus 2.5 standard deviations.
Results. In the toe, 7/28 (25%) AIDS/ARC subjects had abnormal VT’s compared to 7/151 (5%) asymptomatic seropostiive subjects and 0/32 controls (chi square = 17.2, p < 0.01). Mean VT was significantly greater (ANOVA p < 0.0001) in AIDS/ARC subjects (3.00 ± 0.15, standard error) then in asymptomatics (1.63 ± 0.16) and controls (1.56 ± 0.08). Finger abnormality rates did not differ, although AIDS/ARC subjects had greater mean VT (p = 0.02). Toe (but not finger) VT correlated with peripheral CD4 + lymphocyte count (r = 0.29, p < 0.001).
Conclusions. Subclinical PN is related to immune state and persistent by QST in 25% of patients with AIDS or ARC. |
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