HIV peripheral neuropathy progression: protection with glucose-lowering drugs?

The purpose of this study is to evaluate risk factors for progression from asymptomatic peripheral neuropathy (APN) to symptomatic peripheral neuropathy (SPN). Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients initiating combination ART were followed longitudinally and screened for signs/symptoms of PN. Having APN was associated with higher odds of future SPN (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = (1.08, 2.29), p = 0.027). Neurotoxic ART use was associated with increased odds of progression to SPN (OR = 2.16, 95 % CI = (1.21, 3.85), p = 0.009) while use of glucose-lowering drugs (non-insulin) was protective (OR = 0.12, 95 % CI = (0.02, 0.83), p = 0.031). Use of glucose-lowering drugs (non-insulin) may prevent progression from APN to SPN.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes