title: Peripheral neuropathy in patients with hepatitis virus C infection in the Amazon region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis virus C (HCV) infection is considered a health problem in the State of Acre localized in the Brazilian Amazon which has a prevalence rate of 5.9%. Peripheral neuropathy is a common extra-hepatic manifestation in patients with HCV.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathies using clinical and neurophysiological parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was performed in patients assisted by a specialized center of infectious diseases in the State of Acre. All patients completed a clinicoepidemiological questionnaire, physical examination and nerve conduction studies (NCS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 78 patients with mean age 45.5 years (range from 10 to 76 years), two thirds were male, 51% had at least 8 years of formal education and 96% lived in the capital city of Acre State. Roughly 34% of patients complained about paresthesias mainly in upper limbs. The NCS diagnosed multiple mononeuropathy in 11 (14.1%; IC95% 7.6-23.2) patients and carpal tunnel syndrome in 4 (5.1%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subclinical involvement of peripheral nerves seems common in patients with HCV, with multiple mononeuropathy the main manifestation of nerve injury in this region as suggested by electrophysiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurofisiologia, Hospital Luterano, ULBRA, Porto Alegre, RS, and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Acre, Brazil. ireniogomes@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Irenio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Daniel Bocchese
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Nora
authors.forename: Nelson Cezar
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Marquezini
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: Ailton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors