PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY IN CHILDREN WITH HIV-INFECTION

Peripheral neuropathy is infrequently reported in children with HIV in fection, but may be underrecognized. To provide a better understanding of the patterns of peripheral neuropathy in these children, we survey ed the charts of 50 children with HIV infection referred to the EMG la boratory at the National Institutes of Health for evaluation of suspec ted peripheral neuropathy. Twelve children had an abnormal nerve condu ction study. The findings suggested a distal sensory or sensorimotor a xonal neuropathy in seven children, median nerve compression at the ca rpal tunnel in three, a demyelinating neuropathy in one child, and a l umbosacral polyradiculopathy in one adolescent. Distal symmetric polyn europathy occurred mostly in older-aged children.