Chronic painful polyneuropathy associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (Q105579)

Chronic pain may occur in distal sensory polyneuropathy in HIV infection. Polyneuropathy may develop either as a primary effect of HIV infection or as an adverse effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Pain may be the initial symptom of a neuropathy or develop over the course of the disease. The pain may be spontaneous (ongoing or paroxysmal) or less frequently evoked, as an increased response to a painful stimulus (hyperalgesia) or a painful response to a normally nonpainful stimulus (allodynia). Negative and positive sensory symptoms or signs must be compatible with the anatomical distribution pattern of the polyneuropathy.