Prevalence and risk factors associated with the presence of peripheral neuropathy in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and risk factors associated with peripheral neuropathy in a population of patients with hepatitis C virus infection.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Electrophysiological assessment included bilateral motor and sensory conduction studies of four limbs.


RESULTS
Thirty-one cases and 31 control subjects were studied. Eighteen patients (58%) from the group of patients infected with the hepatitis C virus had evidence of neuropathy. Only 3 (10%) persons from the control group exhibited neuropathy. Among the risk factors for neuropathy in the patients infected with hepatitis C virus, we found the following: positive rheumatoid factor, cryoglobulinemia, and cirrhosis or active hepatitis. Other risk factors were advanced age, prolonged time of evolution, high viral load of the hepatitis C virus, and low complement.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of neuropathy encountered in our study was high (58%). In our study, a positive rheumatoid factor, cryoglobulins, and a high viral load were also associated with the presence of peripheral neuropathy. A high viral load could express possible direct viral damage.
Téllez-Zenteno
José Francisco
JF
From the *Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición ;Salvador Zubirán;; daggerNeurophysiology Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición ;Salvador Zubirán;; and the double daggerDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición ;Salvador Zubirán.;
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Plascencia
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Domínguez
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Ortiz-Nieva
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