title: Screening for HIV-associated distal-symmetric polyneuropathy in CDC-classification stages 1, 2, and 3.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A total of 670 patients were screened for distal symmetric HIV-associated polyneuropathy during CDC stages 1-3 and its correlation to immunological deterioration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical examinations of 670 patients admitted to the neurological outpatient clinic at the Department of Neurology, University of Munster. Neurophysiological investigations were performed on the sural and peroneal nerve for detection of axonal and myelin lesion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical examination proved progressive clinical signs and symptoms indicating distal symmetric polyneuropathy from CDC 1 (32%) to CDC 3 (55%). At least one neurophysiological result was impaired in CDC 1 in 25% and in CDC 3 in 45%. Significant correlation between neurophysiological changes and CDC4(+)-cells and beta-microglobuline were detected for stage CDC 3 C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results show stage related prevalence of distal symmetric polyneuropathy already in early stages. In late stages of HIV-infection prevalence of distal symmetric polyneuropathy seems to be directly correlated to immunodeficiency syndrome. The pathogenesis of distal symmetric polyneuropathy during HIV-infection is up to now incompletely understood, but results indicate a clear dependency between progressive immunological dysfunction and neuropathy. High active antiretroviral therapy in patients suffering from distal symmetric polyneuropathy is a main topic of future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, WWU Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Husstedt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reichelt
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Grotemeyer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kammer-Suhr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Böckenholt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015488:HIV Antigens