title: The frequency and outcome of neuropathies among HIV/AIDS adults treated at a tertiary hospital in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been shown to reduce AIDS- defining illnesses, including neuropathies. However, it has been postulated that an increase in age -, HIV- and HAART- related neurological complications will occur as HIV-infected persons live longer. This study investigated the frequency and outcome of neuropathies in relation to CD4+ cell count and HAART status of hospitalised HIV/AIDS patients in Shika.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive adult (e"15 years) non pregnant HIV- infected patients treated at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika-Zaria from January 2006 to May 2013 with neuropathies were studied. Non HIV-infected patients with neurological disorders and HIV-infected patients without neuropathies were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5240 HIV/AIDS patients seen , 11% (566) presented with neuropathy at median CD4+ cell counts of 200 cells / ul, with yearly reduction of the frequency of patients with neuropathy from 3.9% in 2006 to 0.06% in 2013. Male: female ratio was 2:1 and respective mean years were 41.9±10.1: 45.3±17.4 (p<0.00). 253 (45%) were on HAART at presentation. 40 patients died and the mortality was associated with recurrent seizures, CD4+ cell counts d" 100 / ul, male sex, HAART-naivety and presence of co-morbidity and complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The progressive reduction in the yearly frequency of neuropathy among HIV/AIDS patients suggests a beneficial effect of HAART on neuropathies. However, late presentation, low CD4+ cell counts and failure of patients to start HAART early were responsible for AIDS-related mortality thus highlighting the importance of early HIV screening and treatment.
authors: Department of Medicine1, HIV Treatment Centre2 , Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Shika Zaria, Nigeria.
authors: O R
authors: OR
authors: Obiako
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Ogoina
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Abubakar
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Muktar
authors: T L
authors: TL
authors: Sheikh
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Tabi-Ajayi
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Kehinde
authors: E U
authors: EU
authors: Iwuozo
authors: B O P
authors: BO
authors: Musa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult