Abstract

Several forms of motor neuron disease occurring in association with HIV infection have been described. Segmental proximal spinal muscular atrophy or brachial amyotrophic diplegia, a rare segmental variant of motor neuron disease with isolated bilateral upper extremity weakness, has previously been described in a single case report. We describe a patient who is HIV-seropositive presenting with this phenotype and illustrate novel findings on MRI of the cervical cord, consisting of focal atrophy and T2 hyperintense signal change involving the anterior grey matter. Additionally, a number of differences compared with patients without HIV presenting with this motor neuron disease variant are highlighted.