Immunohistochemical Detection of HCV in nerves and muscles of patients with HCV associated Peripheral Neuropathy and Myositis

Background: Chronic hepatitis C Virus [HCV] infection may be associated with numerous extrahepatic manifestations, such as mixed cryoglobulinaemia, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, sicca syndrome. Cryoglobulinaemia [CG] is a condition characterized by the presence of serum proteins that reversibly precipitate in the cold. The objective of the present work was to study the histopathological changes in neuromuscular biopsies in patients with HCV associated peripheral neuropathy, or myopathy; with and without cryoglobulinemia, and to assess the presence of HCV in nerve and muscle tissues of those patients which might clarify some pathogenetic mechanisms for neuropathy, and myopathy associated with HCV

Methods: The study was conducted on 17 cases of HCV infected patients with peripheral neuropathy and myositis. All patients were subjected to thorough laboratory investigations, neurological examination, electrophysiologic studies including nerve conduction, and needle EMG studies

Results: Histopathological examination of nerve biopsies showed features of vascultis in 2/10 cases, interstitial inflammatory infiltrates in 5/10. Muscle biopsies showed intense inflammatory reaction, degenerative changes in the muscles of 3/10 cases diagnosed as myositis. Immunohistochemical results, showed in nerve biopsies, 7/10 cases with positive reaction for HCV with nuclear and perinuclear staining.. Two patients showed positive reaction in the epineural, and endoneural blood vessels and a negative reaction in nerve bundles, while in five patients, reaction was only positive in the nerve bundles. In muscle biopsies, 7/10 cases showed positive reaction for HCV in the nuclei of the muscle fibers, including the cases presented with myositis

Conclusion: The presence of HCV particles in nerve and muscle biopsies of patients with peripheral neuropathy suggests a virus triggered immune mediated mechanism

Immunohistochemical detection of HCV in nerves and muscles of patients with HCV associated peripheral neuropathy and myositis

Chronic hepatitis C Virus [HCV] infection may be associated with numerous extrahepatic manifestations, such as mixed cryoglobulinaemia, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, sicca syndrome, Cryoglobulinaemia [CG] is a condition characterized by the presence of serum proteins that reversibiy precipitate in the cold. The objective of the present work was to study the histopathological changes in neuromuscular biopsies in patients with HCV associated peripheral neuropathy, or myopathy; with and without cryoglobulinemia, and to assess the presence of HCV in nerve and muscle tissues of those patients which might clarify some pathogenetic mechanisms for neuropathy, and myopathy associated with HCV. The study was conducted on 17 cases of HCV infected patients with peripheral neuropathy and myositis. All patients were subjected to thorough laboratory investigations, neurological examination, electrophysiologic studies including nerve conduction, and needle EMG studies. Histopathological examination of nerve biopsies showed features of vascultis in 2/10 cases, interstitial inflammatory infiltrates in 5/10. Muscle biopsies showed intense inflammatory reaction, degenerative changes in the muscles of 3/10 cases diagnosed as myositis. Immunohistochemical results, showed in nerve biopsies, 7/10 cases with positive reaction for HCV with nuclear and perinuclear staining. Two patients showed positive reaction in the epineural, and endoneural blood vessels and a negative reaction in nerve bundles, while in five patients, reaction was only positive in the nerve bundles. In muscle biopsies, 7/10 cases showed positive reaction for HCV in the nuclei of the muscle fibers, including the cases presented with myositis. The presence of HCV particles in nerve and muscle biopsies of patients with peripheral neuropathy suggests a virus triggered immune mediated mechanism

Study of the correlation between risk factors and clinical manifestations in different ischemic stroke subtypes

The aim of the present work was to identify risk factors in different ischemic stroke subtypes, namely; cortical, large subcortical and lacunar infarctions and to correlate between clinical presentation and radiological findings in each of the previous stroke subtypes. Eighty one patients were included in this study. According to computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging results, the patients were subdivided into cortical, large subcortical and lacunar infarct groups. Risk factors were studied according to Stroke Risk Assessment Form. The clinical picture was studied according to Mini-Mental Scale and Canadian Neurological Scale. In cortical infarctions, atrial fibrillation and high mean platelet count were more common. In large subcortical infarctions, oral contraceptives were more commonly used. Pure lacunar infarctions were more related to positive history of hypertension, and high mean systolic blood pressure. As regards Mini-Mental Scale; orientation, registration and total score were lower among cortical infarctions. There were no statistically significant difference between the three groups as regards the Canadian Neurological Scale; mentation score, total motor score with or without comprehension deficit. There are differences between different stroke subtypes as regards clinical picture and risk factors

Assessment of the personality traits of infertile and fertile Egyptian females

The personality of infertile and fertile Egyptian females and the relationship between the traits of certain characteristics were studied. A random sample of 100 infertile women and 100 fertile women as controls were interviewed. The personality traits of both groups were assessed through the middle sex inventory