SKELETAL-MUSCLE PATHOLOGY IN AIDS - AN AUTOPSY STUDY

A survey of skeletal muscle pathology in 92 autopsied cases of AIDS revealed microscopic alterations in 64 cases. There were 40 cases of disuse atrophy, 8 of denervation atrophy, 2 of cryptococcal myositis, 1 of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) infection and 2 of necrotizing myopathy associated with hyperkalemia. A second group of cases with changes of unknown etiology was found. These were tentatively ascribed to the direct or indirect action of HIV. This category includes 8 cases of inflammatory myopathy, 8 of necrotizing myopathy in absence of a known etiological factor, 3 of extreme atrophy and 4 of “regenerating” myopathy. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.