Abstract
Despite the use of safer antiretroviral medications, the rate of HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN), the most common neurological complication of HIV, remains high. This condition is often painful and has a negative effect on quality of life. Up to 90% of those with HIV-SN experience pain for which there is no effective analgesic treatment. Genetic factors are implicated, but there is a lack of a comprehensive body of research for African populations. This knowledge gap is even more pertinent as Africans are most affected by HIV. However, recent studies performed in Southern African populations have identified genes displaying potential as genetic markers for HIV-SN and HIV-SN-associated pain in Africans. Here, we review the published studies to describe current knowledge of genetic risk factors for this disease in Africa.
Keywords:
Africa; Genetics; HIV neuropathy; Pain.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Africa / epidemiology
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Black People
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase / genetics
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase / metabolism
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DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
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DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism
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Female
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Gene Expression
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
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HIV Infections / complications
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HIV Infections / ethnology
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HIV Infections / genetics*
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HIV Infections / physiopathology
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Humans
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Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / genetics
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Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / metabolism
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Interleukin-4 / genetics
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Interleukin-4 / metabolism
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Male
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Pain / complications
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Pain / ethnology
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Pain / genetics*
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Pain / physiopathology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / complications
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / ethnology
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / genetics*
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Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
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Quality of Life / psychology
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Risk Factors
Substances
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DNA, Mitochondrial
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IL12B protein, human
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IL4 protein, human
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Interleukin-12 Subunit p40
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Interleukin-4
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CAMKK2 protein, human
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Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase