Motor lumbosacral radiculopathy in HIV-infected patients

BACKGROUND: This study is a review of the clinical findings and treatment outcome of 11 HIV-infected patients with motor lumbosacral radiculopathy. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological features and treatment outcome in HIV-infected motor lumbosacral radiculopathy which is a rare manifestation of HIV. METHOD: A retrospective review of HIV-infected patients with motor lumbosacral radiculopathy was performed at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH), Durban, South Africa between 2010 and 2015. RESULTS: Eleven black African patients met the inclusion criteria. There were six women. The median age was 29 years, the interquartile range (IQR) was 23–41 years, the median duration of symptom progression was 6.5 months (IQR 3–7.5 months). The median CD4 count was 327 cells/µL (IQR 146–457). The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) median polymorphocyte count was 0 cells/µL (IQR 0 cells/µL – 2 cells/µL), lymphocyte count was 16 cells/µL (IQR 1 cells/µL – 18 cells/µL), glucose level was 3.1 mmol/L (IQR 2.8 mmol/L – 3.4 mmol/L) and protein level was 1.02 g/dL (IQR 0.98 g/dL – 3.4 g/dL). All patients were treated with corticosteroid therapy. Ninety-one per cent recovered fully within 6 months of treatment, the median time for recovery was 3.4 months (IQR 1.8–5.6 months). There were no relapses during the 18-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: HIV-infected patients with motor lumbosacral radiculopathy responded to corticosteroids, with no relapses during the 18-month follow-up period.