Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in Egyptian hepatitis C virus patients: Correlation to some clinical and laboratory parameters

Aim of the workThe present study was undertaken to assess prevalence and characteristics of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in Egyptian hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients.Patients and methodsEighty newly diagnosed HCV patients were enrolled, with 20 healthy volunteers. All were subjected to: full clinical examination, neurological examination, laboratory assessment including; routine blood tests, ESR, CRP, RF, ANA, C4, cryoglobulins (CGs), anti-GM1 antibodies, HCV antibodies, Quantitative PCR, abdominal ultrasonography, liver biopsy, and electrophysiological assessment.ResultsThirty-six patients (45%) had clinical neuropathy, 18 patients (22.5%) had subclinical neuropathy. Thirty-eight out of the 54 PN patients (70.3%) showed axonal neuropathy which is mainly sensory affecting lower limbs. Twelve patients showed +ve cryoglobulinemia, all of them had neuropathy (10 clinical, 2 subclinical). Abnormal titers of anti-neuronal antibodies were associated with electrophysiological abnormalities in 50 out of the 54 PN patients. PN correlated with age, disease duration, ESR, CRP, RF, HCV viraemia, CGs, anti-GM1 and hypocomplementinemia.ConclusionsPN exists in high prevalence among Egyptian HCV patients, and is associated with CG. It is mainly of axonal sensory type more affecting lower limbs. HCV patients should be investigated for the presence of CGs even in the absence of clinical manifestations.