HIV-Related Motor Neuron Disease

To investigate whether motor neuron disease (MND) can be a consequence of HIV infection, these researchers retrospectively analyzed data from approximately 1700 HIV-infected patients with . . .

To investigate whether motor neuron disease (MND) can be a consequence of HIV infection, these researchers retrospectively analyzed data from approximately 1700 HIV-infected patients with neurologic complications who were referred to one researcher from 1987 through 2000. Six patients (0.35 percent; mean age, 34) with MND were identified: 5 men and 1 woman. All but one presented with CD4 T-lymphocyte counts below 200 cells/mm³. One met clinical and electrophysiologic El Escorial research diagnostic criteria for definite amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); the others were preliminarily diagnosed with either probable or possible ALS. MND typically manifested as monomelic amyotrophy with relatively rapid regional or symmetric progression (wit…

Reviewing Author

Joseph R. Berger, MD