Transverse myelitis associated with chronic viral hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
HCV infection could cause several extra hepatic diseases including mixed cryoglobulinemia. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common complication of mixed cryoglobulinemia. In addition to cryoglobulinemia's neuropathy, transverse myelitis had been related to HCV infection.


OBJECTIVE
But causality of this association is not clearly established.


METHODS
A 55-year-old man presented with motor deficiency in lower extremities and urinary retention. Neurological exams showed a spastic paraparesis and proprioceptive ataxia. Spinal MRI revealed a contrast enhancing signal abnormality within the spinal cord extending from Levels C3 to C5. Serology hepatitis C and viremia were positive. Clinical diagnosis of acute demyelinating sensorimotor polyneuropathy associated to chronic hepatitis C was etablished.


CONCLUSIONS
Screening of HCV infection must be done in patients with transverse myelitis and no clear aetiology.
Mouelhi
Leila
L
Department of Gastroenterology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mekki
Hayfa
H
Houissa
Fatma
F
Debbeche
Radhouane
R
Ben Rejeb
Majd
M
Bouzaidi
Slim
S
Trabelsi
Sinda
S
Salem
Mohamed
M
Najjar
Taoufik
T
D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000821:virology*