Unusual muscle disease in HIV infected patients

Abstract

Two patients presented with proximal muscle weakness, a normal or minor elevation of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and normal findings on electromyography. Muscle biopsy in one patient revealed CD8+ polymyositis, and in the other showed ddI induced myopathy. These cases illustrate the importance of muscle biopsy in identifying the underlying pathology in HIV infected patients with muscle weakness and little or no abnormality in laboratory investigations.