Effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection on Nerve Conduction Velocity Study in Neurologically Asymptomatic Patients

Aims and Objective

1. To study the nerve conduction velocity in Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositive patients. 2. To analyze whether it is an axonal or a demyelinating neuropathy.

Purpose of Study

One of possible neurological complications with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection is Peripheral Nervous System affection if patient presented very late. The purpose of study is to assess the effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus on nerve conduction study even if patient has not symptoms of neuropathy.

Materials & Methodology

The cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 18 Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositive patients (Mean age=34.3 years) having no clinical features of neuropathy like pain, numbness, parasthesiae, focal weakness as case group and 20 normal healthy individuals (Mean age=34.3 years) as control group in Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. Subjects exposed to factors affecting nerve conduction velocities e.g. alcohol, drugs (vincristine, isoniazide, antiretroviral therapy, antikoch's therapy), suffering from diabetes, uremia or family history of neuropathy, were not included. Subjects were selected by sample of convenience. Nerve conduction studies were done on left side upper limb and lower limb in lying. The amplitude (peak to peak) and nerve conduction velocities were measured for Median nerve both motor and sensory, Peroneal nerve, Sural nerve using instrument (RMS-EMG-EP-MK-II, Version-1.1), measuretape, thermometer, weighing-machine, height-scale, sketch-pen, spirit, electrode gel, cotton and adhesive-tape.

Results

Statistical analysis was done with student's t-test. t-values for Median motor nerve conduction velocity, Peroneal distal amplitude, Sural distal amplitude were 2.661, 2.324, 2.565 respectively which showed significant difference at 0.05 significance level. t-values for Median motor distal amplitude, Peroneal nerve conduction velocity, Median sensory distal amplitude, Median sensory nerve conduction velocity, Sural nerve conduction nerve conduction velocity are 0.666, 0.988, 0.913, 1.402, 0.827 respectively which showed no significant difference at 5% level.

Conclusion

Results show presence of demyelinating neuropathy in Median motor nerve and axonal neuropathy Peroneal and Sural nerves suggestive of presence of subclinical peripheral nerve involvement in asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus seropositive patients.