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A predominantly sensory peripheral neuropathy is common with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection,but the cause is unknown.Formalin- fixed dorsal root ganglia(DRG),obtained at postmortem from patients with neuropathy and HIV infection and from control subjects,were examined for the presence of HIV DNA by using polymerase chain reactions(PCR)-amplified in situ hybridization.Viral message RNA was detected using reverse transcription in situ PCR with gag-specific primers.HIV DNA and RNA sequences were detected in many satellite cells,mononuclear cells,and occasional neurons in 5 of 5 patients with HIV and neuropathy.HIV DNA was detected only in rare interstitial and satellite cells from 3 of 4 patients with HIV infection without neuropathy and was not detected in 6 patients without HIV infection.HIV infection of DRG neurons and supporting cells may contribute to the HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. |
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