title: [Peripheral neuropathies and chronic hepatitis C: a frequent association?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of the peripheral neuropathies associated with chronic hepatitis C and their clinical, electrophysiological and histological characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty six patients admitted from December 1994 to January 1996 for chronic hepatitis C were prospectively investigated. Laboratory data included liver blood tests, serum cryoprecipitate immunoelectrophoresis, assays for anti-nuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, circulating immune complexes, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. For each patient, a clinical neurological evaluation as well as an electrophysiological evaluation were performed by the same operator. In presence of peripheral neuropathy, a neuromuscular biopsy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In seven patients (19%), a peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed related to hepatitis C virus in 3 patients. In these 3 patients presenting with leg paresthesia, an axonal sensitive neuropathy was evidenced by electromyography. A neuromuscular biopsy performed in two of these patients showed a severe diminution of the myelinated fibers associated with vasculitis lesions in one patient. A skin biopsy was performed in the third patient with leg purpura revealing a leukocytoclasic vasculitis. A positive cryoglobulinemia was found in two of these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In chronic hepatitis C, the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy is 8% and usually associated with cryoglobulinemia. It is an axonal neuropathy with diminution of the myelinated fibers and vasculitis lesions in the absence of cryoglobulinemia.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie et d'Assistance Nutritive, Hôpital Dupuytren, Limoges.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ripault
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borderie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vallat
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goujon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brecheteau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beauchant
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silvain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies