HIV or AIDS vacuolar myelopathy (Q66627)

An inflammatory and degenerative disorder of the spinal cord due to infection by the HIV virus. The posterior and lateral columns are predominantly affected and show vacuolar degeneration. The symptoms and signs are usually subacute of chronic in onset, and include spastic paraparesis or paraplegia, posterior column sensory loss, and loss of sphincter control. Diagnosis may be confirmed by neuroimaging, spinal fluid analysis, serological tests, and PCR assay.