Antiretroviral therapy may improve sensory function in HIV-infected patients: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate thermal and nociceptive function in a prospective, longitudinal study of 49 consecutive HIV-1-infected patients before and at 1, 4, and 8 months after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy.


METHODS
Quantitative assessments of thermal perception thresholds for warmth (dWT), cold (dCT), and heat pain (HPT) were performed. CD4+ cell levels in blood and HIV-1 RNA levels in plasma were determined. Depending on the virologic response to treatment, the patients were divided into two groups: responders (37 of 49, 76%) and nonresponders (12 of 49, 24%).


RESULTS
Before treatment, impairment of dWT was found in 26 of 49 patients, of dCT in 33 of 49 patients, and of HPT in 19 of 49 patients. Improvements of perception thresholds for dWT (p < 0.0001), dCT (p < 0.001), and HPT (p < 0.01) were observed after 8 months of treatment in the responder group but not in the nonresponders. Within the responder group, improved thermal perception thresholds was associated with higher pretreatment CD4+ levels than in patients without improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
Virologically successful antiretroviral combination therapy of HIV-1-infected patients has a capacity to improve function of the thermal and nociceptive systems, especially in patients with less advanced immunodeficiency.
Martin
C
C
Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Solders
G
G
Sönnerborg
A
A
Hansson
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000187:drug effects*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral