Neurologic disorders associated with HIV infections.

At least 60% of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) develop neurologic disorders. These may be the direct result of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, opportunistic infections, neoplastic disorders, or cerebrovascular complications. Neurologic diseases associated with HIV infection include encephalopathy, aseptic meningitis, vacuolar myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and myopathy. The pathogenesis of these diseases is not known, but it is likely that they will differ. There is evidence that HIV is the etiologic agent of HIV-associated meningitis and subacute encephalitis, but to date there is little evidence to implicate HIV directly as the cause of vacuolar myelopathy, peripheral neuropathies, and myopathies. The results of preliminary clinical studies suggest that treatment with zidovudine (Retrovir) may cause improvement in some patients.