The potential role of hepatitis C virus in the pathogenesis of the neurological syndrome in chronic hepatitis C

• DOI: 10.1136/gut.41.3.411
• Publication Date: 2010-06-30T16:46:12Z
• Authors: C Caudai; D Maimone; P Almi; P Annunziata; I Bastianoni; C A Boggiano; G C Guazzi; M Padula; P E Valensin
• Keywords: Pathogenesis

A 72 year old man developed chronic sensory neuropathy (CSN) during hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Neurological symptoms began one after acute HCV and slowly worsened over three years. No conventional cause for CSN was found. Circulating antinervous tissue antibodies (including anti-Hu) inflammatory infiltrates in sural nerve biopsy specimens were absent. However, the presence of anti-HCV antibody HCV-RNA cerebrospinal fluid indicated that had reached intrathecal compartment, suggesting direct viral involvement pathogenesis CSN.