CONTEXT: HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) is a frequent complication of both HIV and neurotoxic antiretroviral medications such as stavudine. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of symptomatic HIV-SN in a Black South African cohort of patients exposed to stavudine. METHODS: HIV-positive Black South Africans (n=395) who had received stavudine for at least six months were recruited at the Virology Clinic of the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Johannesburg Hospital, South Africa, and screened for neuropathy using the AIDS Clinical Trials Group neuropathy screening tool. HIV-SN was defined as present if the patient had both symptoms and signs of peripheral neuropathy. If present, the distribution and intensity of symptoms were recorded. In addition, anthropomorphic, demographic, and clinical information were recorded and analyzed as risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of symptomatic HIV-SN was 57% (226 of 395). Increasing age and height were independently associated with the development of SN among patients who had used stavudine. Pain was the primary symptom reported by participants with HIV-SN (76%, 172 of 226), followed by numbness (48%, 108 of 226), and pins and needles (46%, 105 of 226). About three-quarters of participants rated their symptoms as being of moderate to severe intensity. Symptoms were always present in the feet and only 23% experienced symptoms proximal to the feet. CONCLUSION: HIV-SN was common in this population and frequently associated with moderate to severe pain in the feet. HIV-SN was significantly associated with increasing age and height, factors that could be measured at no added cost prior to stavudine prescription, allowing higher risk patients to be offered priority access to nonneurotoxic drugs.
CONTEXT: HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) is a frequent complication of both HIV and neurotoxic antiretroviral medications such as stavudine. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of symptomatic HIV-SN in a Black South African cohort of patients exposed to stavudine. METHODS: HIV-positive Black South Africans (n=395) who had received stavudine for at least six months were recruited at the Virology Clinic of the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Johannesburg Hospital, South Africa, and screened for neuropathy using the AIDS Clinical Trials Group neuropathy screening tool. HIV-SN was defined as present if the patient had both symptoms and signs of peripheral neuropathy. If present, the distribution and intensity of symptoms were recorded. In addition, anthropomorphic, demographic, and clinical information were recorded and analyzed as risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of symptomatic HIV-SN was 57% (226 of 395). Increasing age and height were independently associated with the development of SN among patients who had used stavudine. Pain was the primary symptom reported by participants with HIV-SN (76%, 172 of 226), followed by numbness (48%, 108 of 226), and pins and needles (46%, 105 of 226). About three-quarters of participants rated their symptoms as being of moderate to severe intensity. Symptoms were always present in the feet and only 23% experienced symptoms proximal to the feet. CONCLUSION: HIV-SN was common in this population and frequently associated with moderate to severe pain in the feet. HIV-SN was significantly associated with increasing age and height, factors that could be measured at no added cost prior to stavudine prescription, allowing higher risk patients to be offered priority access to nonneurotoxic drugs.
Authors: Alejandro Arenas-Pinto; Jennifer Thompson; Godfrey Musoro; Hellen Musana; Abbas Lugemwa; Andrew Kambugu; Aggrey Mweemba; Dickens Atwongyeire; Margaret J Thomason; A Sarah Walker; Nicholas I Paton Journal: J Neurovirol Date: 2015-08-25 Impact factor: 2.643
Authors: Hayley Goullee; Antonia L Wadley; Catherine L Cherry; Richard J N Allcock; Michael Black; Peter R Kamerman; Patricia Price Journal: J Neurovirol Date: 2016-01-19 Impact factor: 2.643
Authors: Antonia L Wadley; Liesl M Hendry; Peter R Kamerman; Constance S N Chew; Patricia Price; Catherine L Cherry; Zané Lombard Journal: Eur J Hum Genet Date: 2014-06-04 Impact factor: 4.246
Authors: Deanna Cettomai; Judith Kwasa; Gretchen L Birbeck; Richard W Price; Elizabeth A Bukusi; Ana-Claire Meyer Journal: J Neurol Sci Date: 2011-06-11 Impact factor: 3.181
Authors: Deanna Cettomai; Judith K Kwasa; Gretchen L Birbeck; Richard W Price; Craig R Cohen; Elizabeth A Bukusi; Caroline Kendi; Ana-Claire L Meyer Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2013-08-27 Impact factor: 3.217