NERVE CONDUCTION STUDIES IN ASYMPTOMATIC HIV POSITIVE PERSONS

Background: Nerve Conduction Studies were performed in asymptomatic HIV positive persons and corresponding controls to detect subclinical peripheral nervous system involvement in early stage of HIV. Aims & Objective: To perform Nerve Conduction Studies in asymptomatic HIV positive persons and corresponding controls. Material and Methods: In this study,100 participants in the age group 25-45 years were selected. In study group, 50 3 participants who were HIV positive and asymptomatic (CD4 count > 350 cells/mm ) and were not on Anti Retro Viral Treatment (ART),were included.In control group 50 healthy age matched HIV negative participants were included.We performed Nerve Conduction Studies in these participants. For motor nerves, Distal Latency (DL), Motor Nerve Conduction Velocity (MNCV), Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) amplitude were measured and for sensory nerves Onset Latency (OL), Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocity (SNCV) and Sensory Nerve Action Potential (SNAP) amplitude were measured. Results: Nerve Conduction Studies in asymptomatic HIV revealed that,MNCV was significantly decreased for median motor nerve and tibial motor nerve in study group compared to control group, SNAP was significantly reduced for median sensory nerve in study group compared to control group,OL was significantly prolonged for sural nerve in study group than control group and SNCV was significantly decreased for sural nerve in study group than control group. Conclusion: Nerve Conduction Studies in asymptomatic HIV positive persons suggests subclinical peripheral nervous system involvement in early stages of HIV. Hence Nerve Conduction Studies can be important to detect subclinical peripheral nervous system involvement in the early stages of HIV.