Biomaterial Database

Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-related polyneuropathy with 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine. 1988

M C Dalakas, and R Yarchoan, and R Spitzer, and G Elder, and J L Sever

National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892.

A 72-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related axonal polyradiculoneuropathy of the lower extremities was treated with 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT), 250 mg every 4 hours. Before therapy she had rapidly progressive weakness in both legs and when treatment began she could move only her toes. Six weeks after therapy, there was mild improvement in her strength, which peaked 2 months later. At her best, she was able to lift her leg 30 degrees off the bed and stand with assistance. Improvement, which was also demonstrated electrophysiologically, was short lived and partially declined when AZT was discontinued. This case demonstrates that some patients with HIV-related axonal neuropathies even in advanced stages can show objective signs of improvement when given AZT. A systematic trial with AZT in the treatment of patients with HIV-related polyneuropathies is therefore warranted.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007866	Leg	The inferior part of the lower extremity between the KNEE and the ANKLE.	Legs
D009422	Nervous System Diseases	Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. This includes disorders of the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscle.	Neurologic Disorders,Nervous System Disorders,Neurological Disorders,Disease, Nervous System,Diseases, Nervous System,Disorder, Nervous System,Disorder, Neurologic,Disorder, Neurological,Disorders, Nervous System,Disorders, Neurologic,Disorders, Neurological,Nervous System Disease,Nervous System Disorder,Neurologic Disorder,Neurological Disorder
D009431	Neural Conduction	The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus.	Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D010243	Paralysis	A general term most often used to describe severe or complete loss of muscle strength due to motor system disease from the level of the cerebral cortex to the muscle fiber. This term may also occasionally refer to a loss of sensory function. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p45)	Palsy,Plegia,Todd Paralysis,Todd's Paralysis,Palsies,Paralyses,Paralysis, Todd,Paralysis, Todd's,Plegias,Todds Paralysis
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.	AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly
D013497	Sural Nerve	A branch of the tibial nerve which supplies sensory innervation to parts of the lower leg and foot.	Nerve, Sural,Nerves, Sural,Sural Nerves
D013936	Thymidine	A nucleoside in which THYMINE is linked to DEOXYRIBOSE.	2'-Deoxythymidine,Deoxythymidine,2' Deoxythymidine