PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY IN AIDS PATIENTS AT KENYATTA-NATIONAL-HOSPITAL

Between June and December 1992 forty AIDS patients as defined by the C DC criteria, admitted to the medical wards of the Kenyatta National Ho spital, were studied to determine the prevalence and pattern of periph eral neuropathy, Their mean age was 33+/-3 years with a range of 16 to 55 years, Clinical and laboratory assessment were carried out both to confirm peripheral neuropathy and exclude other causes of peripheral neuropathy apart from AIDS. All the patients had nerve conduction and electromyographic studies done. Eighteen patients were asymptomatic wh ile fourteen had both signs and symptoms, The commonest symptom was pa inful paresthesiae of the limbs (35%) while the commonest sign was los s of vibration sense (60%), When symptoms, signs, and electrophysiolog ical studies were combined, all the patients fitted the definition of peripheral neuropathy, The commonest type of peripheral neuropathy was distal symmetrical peripheral neuropathy (DSPN) (37.5%).