NEUROPATHY CAUSED BY NECROTIZING VASCULIT IS IN HIV-1 INFECTION

A 33 year-old male homosexual infected with human immunodefiency virus type I developed an asymmetrical and painful neuropathy in the lower limbs. Neuro-muscular biopsy showed a necrotizing vasculitis. There we re no clinical features indicative of systemic vasculitis. Prednisone therapy dramatically improved the neuropathy, without adverse effects. Although rare, necrotizing arteritis must be considered in HIV1 patie nts with neuropathy, especially in case of mononeuropathy multiplex an d when immunodepression is mild or absent, since a successful corticos teroid therapy can be prescribed.