Myopathies

Several types of myopathy may complicate HIV-1 infection. Both inflammatory and noninflammatory myopathies have been described, ranging in severity from asymptomatic creatine kinase elevation to severe proximal weakness. Patients with inflammatory, polymyositis-like illnesses have improved with corticosteroid therapy.
Zidovudine can also cause proximal weakness and loss of muscle mass. This toxic myopathy appears to develop only after prolonged use of the antiretroviral and perhaps relates to the drug's effect on mitochondria; muscle biopsy may reveal excessive or abnormal mitochondria. Discontinuing the drug usually results in clinical improvement.

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_{Baumbartner JE, Rachlin JR, Beckstead JH, et al: Primary central nervous system lymphomas: Natural history and response to radiation therapy in 55 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. J Neurosurg 73:206, 1990. Describes an extensive experience with primary CNS lymphoma in AIDS.}

Berger JR, Levy RM: AIDS and the Nervous System, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven, 1997. A multi-authored book with a number of useful chapters and extensive primary source references.