Immunoreactive myelin basic protein in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with peripheral neuropathies

Inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Five patients infected with immunodeficiency virus who were suffering from chronic polyradiculoneuropathy were investigated during evolution of the disease. Four of them were immunodeficient. The prominent neurological feature was distal and symmetrical weakness of the legs. After 5 months only one patient had improved. All patients had an increased protein level in the cerebrospinal fluid and pleocytosis. Electrodiagnostic studies and sural nerve biopsies indicated demyelination. Sural nerve viral cultures, including human immunodeficiency virus, were negative. The presence of circulating anti-peripheral nerve antibodies and of immunoglobulin deposits in nerve biopsy specimens was investigated by immunofluorescence techniques but failed to demonstrate any immunoreactivity.

Inflammatory demyelinating peripheral neuropathies associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III infection

Nine patients with inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies (IDP) were found to have human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) infection. The 8 men, 6 of whom were homosexual, and 1 woman, a former intravenous drug user, presented with progressive weakness. Two had lymphadenopathy but all were otherwise asymptomatic. Six had chronic IDP and 3 had Guillain-Barré syndrome. In addition to an elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein level (mean, 193 mg/dl), most patients had cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis (mean, 23 cells/mm3), a distinctive feature. All had reduced T4:T8 T-cell ratios. Results of nerve conduction studies were characteristic of demyelination. Nerve biopsies revealed intense inflammatory cell infiltrates and macrophage-mediated demyelination. The patients recovered either spontaneously or following treatment with corticosteroids or plasmapheresis. During a mean interval of 20 months after presentation, only 1 patient had developed acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Patients with HTLV-III infection have disordered immune function, and the mechanism of the development of the IDP is likely to be immunopathogenic. As a result of our experience, we suggest that all patients with IDP be tested for evidence of HTLV-III infection. We also found, although in uncontrolled trials, that treatment with either prednisone or plasmapheresis was followed by clinical improvement; since plasmapheresis is not likely to further depress cell-mediated immunity, we suggest that it be the initial therapy.