Ultrastructural changes associated with peripheral neuropathy in HIV/AIDS.
Light and electron microscopic studies were performed on neuromuscular biopsy specimens from 12 neurologically affected seropositive patients, 7 with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 2 with AIDS-related complex, and 3 with no symptoms except for neuropathy. All patients had an axonal injury associated or unassociated with demyelination and peripheral neurogenic atrophy. Capillary lesions were consistently present, which seems to be a new finding. Moreover, tubuloreticular inclusions (TRIs) were found in endomysial (9 of 12 cases) and endoneurial (7 of 12 cases) vessels. Statistical analysis showed that TRIs in more than 20% of endomysial vessels correlated with a survival time shorter than 12 months (P = 0.028). Thus the quantification of TRIs seems to be one of the vital prognostic elements in this patient population.
Mezin
P
P
Cell Pathology Laboratory, A. Michallon Hospital, Grenoble, France.
Brion
J P
JP
Vermont
J
J
Micoud
M
M
Stoebner
P
P
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis