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Article: Neuropathic pain in AIDS patients prior to antiretroviral therapy.(Original Articles)(acquired immune deficiency syndrome)(Report)
- Article from:
- South African Medical Journal
- Article date:
- November 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 South African Medical Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has a predilection for nerve tissue; therefore, the peripheral nerves, spinal cord and brain are frequently affected in patients with HIV/AIDS, resulting in a high prevalence of neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as '... pain initiated or caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction of the nervous system'. (1) The lesion may occur anywhere within the central or peripheral nervous system and may lead to structural and functional changes in the nervous system, resulting in altered central neural processing of sensory input (central sensitisation). Consequently, pain ...