Human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus Type-1 associated myeloneuropathies: a caribbean perspective / Mieloneuropatías asociadas con el virus humano de células tipo 1 de la leucemia/linfoma: una perspectiva caribeña

This review follows the contributions of researchers from the Caribbean in improving the understanding of the disease mechanisms, clinical features and aetiology of neurological syndromes manifesting as diseases of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The evolution from the initial descriptions of neuropathies of presumed nutritional aetiology and later the recognition of two distinct subgroups, an ataxic neuropathy and a spastic myelopathy, are highlighted. The link between the natural history of human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection and the immunopathogenesis of tropical spastic paraparesis is explored.

Este examen sigue las contribuciones de investigadores del Caribe encaminadas a mejorar la comprensión de los mecanismos de la enfermedad, rasgos clínicos y la etiología de los síndromes neurológicos que se manifiestan como enfermedades de la médula espinal y los nervios periféricos. El trabajo resalta la evolución de las descripciones iniciales de las neuropatías de etiología nutricional presuntiva y el posterior reconocimiento de dos subgrupos claramente distintos: la neuropatía atáxica, y la mielopatía espástica. Se explora el vínculo entre la historia natural de la infección por el virus humano de células tipo 1 (HTLV-1) en la leucemia/linfoma, y la inmunopatogénesis de la paraparesia espástica tropical.

peripheral nervous system complications of HIV infection

More than half of HIV-infected persons develop symptomatic neurological disease. The nervous system is extensively involved with no part of the neuraxis being immune from the virus. HIV-associated neuropathies have become the most frequent neurological disorder associated with HIV infection. The most common forms of HIV-associated neuropathies are the distal sensory polyneuropathy [DSP] and antiretroviral toxic neuropathy. Other forms include acute or chronic inflammatory polyneuropathies. Mononeuritis multiplex or radiculopathies may occur in late stages and are mostly associated with opportunistic infections. Furthermore, HIV-related muscle involvement is an uncommon but important complication. This may be due to polymyositis, HIV-associated wasting syndrome or may be aggravated by drugs. The aim of this review is to evaluate the available data on clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, investigations and the therapeutic implication for peripheral nervous system [PNS] neuropathies complications of HIV/AIDS. This review summarises those issues that are likely to confront clinicians, including those who do not routinely treat people infected with HIV

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

Peripheral neuropathy in patients with hepatitis virus C infection in the Amazon region / Neuropatia periférica em pacientes com infecção pelo vírus C da hepatite na região amazônica

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis virus C (HCV) infection is considered a health problem in the State of Acre localized in the Brazilian Amazon which has a prevalence rate of 5.9 percent. Peripheral neuropathy is a common extra-hepatic manifestation in patients with HCV. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathies using clinical and neurophysiological parameters. METHOD: A cross sectional study was performed in patients assisted by a specialized center of infectious diseases in the State of Acre. All patients completed a clinicoepidemiological questionnaire, physical examination and nerve conduction studies (NCS). RESULTS: We studied 78 patients with mean age 45.5 years (range from 10 to 76 years), two thirds were male, 51 percent had at least 8 years of formal education and 96 percent lived in the capital city of Acre State. Roughly 34 percent of patients complained about paresthesias mainly in upper limbs. The NCS diagnosed multiple mononeuropathy in 11 (14.1 percent; IC95 percent 7.6-23.2) patients and carpal tunnel syndrome in 4 (5.1 percent) patients. CONCLUSION: Subclinical involvement of peripheral nerves seems common in patients with HCV, with multiple mononeuropathy the main manifestation of nerve injury in this region as suggested by electrophysiological studies.

INTRODUÇÃO: A infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C (VHC) é considerada um problema de saúde pública no Estado do Acre com uma prevalência de 5,9 por cento. Neuropatia periférica é uma manifestação extra-hepática comum em pacientes com VHC. OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de neuropatias periféricas através de parâmetros clínicos e neurofisiológicos. MÉTODO: Foi realizado estudo transversal em pacientes atendidos em uma clínica especializada de doenças infecciosas do Estado do Acre. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a um questionário clínico-epidemiológico, exame físico e eletroneuromiografia (ENMG). RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 78 pacientes, com idade média de 45,5 anos (10 a 76), dois terços eram do sexo masculino, 51 por cento tinha pelo menos 8 anos de educação formal e 95 por cento moravam na capital do Estado. Aproximadamente 34 por cento dos pacientes se queixaram de parestesias, principalmente nos membros superiores. A ENMG diagnosticou mononeuropatia múltipla em 11 (14,1 por cento, IC95 por cento 7,6-23,2) pacientes e síndrome do túnel do carpo em 4 (5,1 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: Comprometimento dos nervos periféricos é comum em pacientes com VHC, sendo neuropatia múltipla a apresentação mais comumente diagnosticada pela ENMG.

Manifestações neurológicas de dengue: estudo de 41 casos / Neurological manifestations of dengue: study of 41 cases

Pelo aumento de casos de encefalite e meningoencefalite em pacientes com dengue, diagnosticados em hospital público referência estadual em Neurologia, adotou-se levantamento sistemático. OBJETIVO: Apresentar 41 casos com manifestações neurológicas do dengue comparando-os à literatura. MÉTODO: Realizou-se estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, entre março e julho de 1997, e prospectivo, de fevereiro a maio de 2002. Foram analisados regiões acometidas e diagnósticos em 41 pacientes. RESULTADOS: As regiões acometidas foram: encefálica (5/7 casos de 1997 - 71,4 por cento e 20/34 casos de 2002 - 58,8 por cento), medular (2/34 de 2002 - 5,9 por cento), de nervos periféricos (2/7 casos de 1997 - 28,6 por cento e 12/34 de 2002 - 35,3 por cento). Não houve acometimento meníngeo. Quanto à topografia, foram diagnosticados acometimentos encefálicos e de nervos periféricos em ambos os períodos, e, apenas em 2002, acometimento medular. Dos 14 diagnósticos, acidente vascular cerebral hemorrágico e encefalomielite aguda disseminada não constam da literatura consultada, além da acentuação de espasmo hemifacial como possível manifestação do dengue. CONCLUSÃO: Esta é a terceira casuística em dengue e sistema nervoso. Foram firmados três diagnósticos, ainda não relatados internacionalmente.