title: Autonomic evaluation of hepatitis C virus infected patients.
abstract: There are few studies reporting the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and disautonomia. We have evaluated the autonomic cardiovascular function in 12 patients with sensory small-fiber polyneuropathy infected by HCV. The mean age was 49 ± 13 years old. The mean infection time was 9.6 years in six (50%) patients. Thermal and pinprick hypoesthesia was observed in distal legs in all patients. Autonomic symptoms were referred by eight (66.7%) patients. Among patients with abnormal autonomic cardiovascular test, five (41.7%) showed abnormal results in two or more tests. Valsalva maneuver was abnormal in seven (58.3%) patients. We can consider that there is an association of both parasympathetic and sympathetic efferent cardiovascular dysfunction in this group of patients.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine and Neuro, UPC, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
authors: Bruno Mattos
authors: BM
authors: Coutinho
authors: Eliane
authors: E
authors: Bordalo
authors: Osvaldo J M
authors: OJ
authors: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054969:Primary Dysautonomias / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver