HIV-associated neuromuscular weakness syndrome in Brazil: Report of the two first cases

José E. Vidal, David Clifford, Cláudio Meilman Ferreira, Augusto C. Penalva De Oliveira

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2 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe two Brazilian patients with HIV-associated neuromuscular weakness syndrome (HANWS), a unique clinical toxic syndrome that was recently reported in developed countries. Both patients were women, used stavudine and had hyperlactatemia, one of them with lactic acidosis. Eletrophysiological studies were consistent with axonal neuropathy. After discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy the patients had significant improvement in neurologic manifestations, and normalization of lactate levels. To our knowledge, this is the first report of HANWS in developing countries. Growing use of antiretroviral therapy in this setting, particularly stavudine, make it likely that similar cases will be observed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)848-851
Number of pages4
JournalArquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
Volume65
Issue number3 B
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2007

Keywords

  • Antiretroviral agents
  • Human immunodeficiency virus
  • Neuromuscular diseases
  • Peripheral neuropathies

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