High prevalence of distal sensory polyneuropathy in antiretroviral‐treated and untreated people with HIV in Tanzania

S Mullin, A Temu, S Kalluvya, A Grant, H Manji

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<jats:title>Summary</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Objectives </jats:bold> To describe the prevalence of distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP), a complication of both advanced HIV disease and of antiretroviral therapy (ART), amongst Tanzanians with HIV, on and off ART (including stavudine) with CD4 counts above and below 200 cells/μl.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods </jats:bold> We recruited participants attending ART clinic into four groups: &gt;6 months ART exposure and (i) CD4 &lt; 200 cells/μl or (ii) CD4 &gt; 200 cells/μl (ART/CD4 &lt; 200 and ART/CD4 &gt; 200, respectively); ART‐naïve and (iii) CD4 &lt; 200 cells/μl or iv)CD4 &gt; 200 cells/μl (noART/CD4 &lt; 200 and noART/CD4 &gt; 200, respectively). Primary outcome was DSP, as defined by presence of at least one symptom and one sign.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results </jats:bold> Of 326 evaluable participants, 81 (32 men, median age 38 years, median CD4 142 cells/μl) were enrolled in the ART/CD4 &lt; 200 group, 78 (17 men, median age 37 years, median CD4 345 cells/μl) in ART/CD4 &gt; 200, 81 (30 men, median age 37 years, median CD4 128 cells/μl) in noART/CD4 &lt; 200 and 86 (22 men, median age 33 years, median CD4 446 cells/μl) in noART/CD4 &gt; 200. Numbness was the most commonly reported symptom. DSP prevalence ranged from 43.2% in ART/CD4 &lt; 200 to 20.9% in noART/CD4 &gt; 200. DSP was more common among men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–3.3) and older participants (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1–6.2 for age 40 + vs. &lt;30 years).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion </jats:bold> Distal sensory polyneuropathy is common amongst those attending this clinic, even those with no ART exposure and a CD4 count above 200 cells/μl. Stavudine and didanosine expose HIV‐infected patients to an additional avoidable risk of DSP. Access to non‐neurotoxic ART regimes as well as earlier HIV diagnosis and initiation of ART is needed.</jats:p>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1291-1296
Number of pages0
JournalTropical Medicine &amp; International Health
Volume16
Issue number10
Early online date24 Jun 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2011

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