Progressive Nemaline (Rod) Myopathy Associated with HIV Infection

Abstract

To the Editor: Nemaline (rod) myopathy of adult onset is a slowly progressive neuromuscular disease usually presenting in the fifth to sixth decades of life.^{1 2 3} Its mechanism and cause are unknown, and no therapy is available. We report a case of a nemaline myopathy associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a 26-year-old white homosexual man with slowly progressive proximal muscle weakness of four months' duration. When he was first seen, he tested positive for HIV on both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis. His helper:suppressor ratio was 1:0. Serum IgG and IgM levels were slightly elevated. The . . .