Neuropathic Pain In HIV / AIDS Patients On Antiretroviral Therapy And Followed As Outpatients In Bamako, Mali

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Abstract

Introduction: Neuropathic pains induced by HIV/AIDS are frequent and able to negatively impact the life quality of patients and their observance of the treatment.

Objective: We aimed to study the HIV-associated neuropathic pain in infected outdoor patients, followed-up in Bamako (MALI).

Method: We conducted a traversal, prospective, descriptive and analytical study on a cohort of 600 patients. The diagnosis of neuropathic pain was made in patients presenting a sensitive, distal and symmetric neuropathy of legs (DN4 positive). Evaluation was conducted with a simple verbal scale (SVS); the impact on the quality of life was conducted with the following scales: HAD and the short survey on pains; scale of improvement (follow-up).

Results: In this study of 120 patients, 20% had a positive DN4. The age group of [25 to 59] years was the most represented with extremes age of 18 and 75 years and modal age class 36-45 years. Females were predominant. The clinical signs were mainly burns, heaviness, and intense pains. The majority of patients reported moderate to intense pains. These pains had a negative impact on their quality of life (sleep, usual work, walk, humor) as well as treatment observance.

Conclusion: Despite the efforts of international community to make available HAART, without intervention, neurological pains have the possibility to become a real public health problem. In order to reach the pinnacle of universal access to care for HIV/AIDS infected patients, the impact of treatments on patient well-being must be further elucidated.