Symptomatic myopathies in HIV-1 infected patients untreated with antiretroviral agents--a clinico-pathological study of 30 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinico-pathological profile of symptomatic myopathies developing in HIV-1 infected patients before use of any antiretroviral therapy.


METHODS
Prospective, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University-referral, tertiary care Hospital.


METHODS
Thirty consecutively admitted, HIV-1 infected patients untreated with antiretrovirals and with clinically suspected skeletal myopathy or raised serum creatinkinase levels.


METHODS
Clinical assessment of muscle strength and open muscle biopsy regarding to histopathological features.


RESULTS
Most of the HIV-1 infected patients were weaker when compared to the matched healthy control group. Only a few patients presented with myalgia. In one third of the cases an inflammatory condition (microvasculitis, myositis) was evident. In another third minor myopathic changes were observed, while in the remaining cases muscle biopsy was normal. Abnormal values of CK correlated poorly with pathologic diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
In a significant proportion of HIV-1 infected symptomatic patients a specific treatment can be given when the existence of an inflammatory condition is diagnosed by muscle biopsy.
Masanés
F
F
Service of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Pedrol
E
E
Grau
J M
JM
Coll-Vinent
B
B
Casademont
J
J
Miró
O
O
Mallolas
J
J
Urbano-Márquez
A
A
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents