Peripheral neuropathy in patients with hepatitis virus C infection in the Amazon region.
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.
Gomes
Irenio
I
Serviço de Neurofisiologia, Hospital Luterano, ULBRA, Porto Alegre, RS, and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Acre, Brazil. ireniogomes@uol.com.br
Nora
Daniel Bocchese
DB
Marquezini
Nelson Cezar
NC
Said
Gerard
G
Melo
Ailton
A
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