Title: [AIDS and myopathy: report of a case and review of the literature]

POPLINE Document Number: 076022

Author(s):

Rodrigues KM
Puccioni-Sohler M
Castineiras TM
Pereira MT
Papi JA
Schechter M
Avila C
Duarte F
Novis SA

Source citation:

ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA, 1991 Sep;49(3):352-6.

Abstract:

Myopathy may be associated with the syndrome of seroconversion in individuals infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or may represent the initial symptom of AIDS. In 1990, 39-year old white, single homosexual who was admitted 1 month prior had experienced an episode of edema and pain in the left thigh that faded with the use of nonhormonal antiinflammatory drugs. 15 days later both forearms became enlarged accompanied by pain and erythema. Erythromycin and cefalexine were used without success. Intermittent fever started to appear before admission accompanied by dyspnea when straining. Examination showed tachypnea, oral candidiasis, and enlargement of both upper arms with pain and local erythema without articular involvement. Neurological examination revealed hypotonia and generalized hyperreflexia with intact muscle strength. Serology was positive for HIV, rheumatic activity tests were negative, and muscle biopsy indicated multifocal myonecrosis. Creatinine phosphokinase was 1019 IU (decrease to 44 IU after treatment), aldolase was 19 IU (decrease to 5.6 IU), and glutamic-pyruvic transminase was 50 IU (decrease to 22 IU). Radiography of the thorax indicated interstitial infiltration. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy indicated Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Sulfamethoxazole and trimetropim treatment cured the dyspnea and hypoxemia, but the enlargement of both arms progressed. Capillaroscopy indicated vasculitis that was treated without success with indomethacin (150 mg/day), for 7 days; prednisone (40-80 mg/day) for 10 days; and dexamethasone (280 mg/day) for 2 days. 6 days after methotrexate (50 mg/dose/week) treatment the fever disappeared and the enlargement in the extremities receded, but a lower dose of 7.5 mg caused the return of fever and edema in the right thigh. The myopathy remained asymptomatic for 5 months with a weekly dose of 15 mg of methotrexate.

Keywords:

Brazil
Case Studies
HIV Infections
Neurologic Effects
Candidiasis
Vascular Diseases
Enzymatic Effects
Treatment
Developing Countries
South America, Eastern
South America
Latin America
Americas
Studies
Research Methodology
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Physiology
Biology
Bacterial and Fungal Diseases
Infections
Enzymes and Enzyme Inhibitors