Home - HIV-Related Peripheral Neuropathy - an Overview
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Part One
Peripheral Neuropathy is a painful condition that affects a significant proportion of people with HIV. It is also well known in other disease conditions - in particular Diabetes. The condition shows a different pattern of symptoms in each case as the underlying pathology is different. This has implications for drug treatments and dietary supplements. For example, where a supplement or pharmaceutical is said to help by reducing the blood sugar level, that is unlikely to help in HIV; whereas if the approach is a general one in helping damaged peripheral nerves to repair or regenerate, then this could apply regardless of etiology.
Medical science has a limited understanding of the pathology of HIV-related peripheral neuropathy, itself considered generally to form two sub-categories - that attributed to damage caused by the virus itself or the body's immune response to the virus, and that caused by the use of certain HIV drugs (the 'D-Drugs') and some other drugs often used with HIV-related conditions - eg. Dapsone. Worldwide, a large number of Diabetic patients suffer from peripheral neuropathy, or are at risk of acquiring the condition. This has led to some research and the prospect of some useful pharmaceuticals in the pipeline. In contrast, HIV-related peripheral neuropathy is relatively new on the scene and, by comparison, affects few people. It is difficult to get an accurate impression of the numbers involved, but it is probable that, due to advances in HIV treatment and earlier detection, the number of people in western countries suffering from this distressing condition is declining. Where the condition is due to medication with 'D-Drugs' the availability of a much wider choice of HIV drug has meant that, where neuropathy becomes a problem, a switch to alternate medication is more likely to be possible. Therefore, in wealthy countries where HIV is diagnosed early and is subsequently well-managed, there is likely to be insufficient incentive for pharmaceutical research directed at specifically HIV-related Peripheral Neuropathy. It is possible, however, that drugs developed for diabetic patients might be experimentally applied in HIV.
Nerves can regenerate over time and some HIV positive people are told by their physician that, given a couple of years, they can hope for the condition to improve, though not necessarily resolve entirely. That, of course, assumes continuing successful HIV supression using a drug regime that does not itself add to the problem. However, the body's ability to repair injured peripheral nerves is not completely assured even in those with no chronic illness. The body is capable of remarkable regeneration and recovery, but we would be wise to actively support its effort at mending, rather than sit back and wait.