Most HIV neuropathic pain research to date has focused on the role of peripheral mechanisms of nerve injury and sensitization, direct effects of HIV or antiretroviral drugs on peripheral nerves (e.g. exposure to dideoxynucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as stavudine or didanosine) and on clinical risk factors for neuropathy (age, height and lower CD4 nadir).3 This evidence concerns the gene CD4 and neuropathy.