Human immunodeficiency virus-associated pure motor lumbosacral polyradiculopathy.
BACKGROUND
Neuromuscular disease is a common manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, but isolated and severe pathology confined to the motor roots or anterior horn cells are not a recognized clinical entity.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the novel clinical presentation of human immunodeficiency virus-related polyradiculopathy manifesting as isolated severe motor symptoms confined to the legs.


METHODS
A case series comprising 4 patients identified prospectively during a 6-month period.


METHODS
Patients were seen in the Department of Neurology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. This is an 800-bed teaching hospital, with approximately 5000 patients seen annually in the Department of Neurology.


METHODS
Patients were identified by their unique presentation with a severe isolated motor neuropathy in the lower limbs. All were Xhosa-speaking African women.


RESULTS
Early human immunodeficiency virus infection may be associated with pure motor lumbosacral polyradiculopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
It remains unclear whether this clinical syndrome should be regarded as a variant of the Guillain-Barre syndrome or whether it represents a unique disorder associated with early human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Benatar
M G
MG
Department of Medicine, Suite KS-406, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA. mbenatar@caregroup. harvard.edu.
Eastman
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013019:South Africa; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology