Central neuropsychiatric complications of hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian patients

Central neuropsychiatric hepatitis C virus [HCV]-associated disorders have been described with increasing frequency in the literature. Anticardiolipin antibodies [aCL] associated with HCV may be an important marker for the central neurological complications. furthermore, cryoglobulinemia could be an important genic factor for such complications. To study various central neuro-psychiatric complications of chronic hepatitis C infection and their possible pathogenetic mechanisms. This study was conducted upon 160 Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. They were subdivided into 2 subgroups: Group I which included 80 chronic hepatitis C patients with clinically apparent neuropsychiatric complication [s] and group II which included 80 chronic hepatitis C patients neuropsychiatric asymptomatic. The control group included 30 healthy volunteers as a control group for the neuropsychological evaluation. Patients were subjected to clinical neuropsychological evaluation, estimation of hepatitis markers, cryoglobulins, anticardiolipin antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, EEG, MRI brain. In neuropsychiatric manifested HCV patients, the most commonly encountered disorders were memory impairment and mood disorders each affected 11.7% of patients red by fatigue which affected 10% of patients then cerebrovascular complications and tension-type headache each.affected 8.3% of patients and in less frequency, late onset idiopathic intracranial hypertension and CNS infections There was highly statistical significant difference between both groups regarding the presence of cryoglobulin, anticardiolipin antibody, antinuclear antibody, EEG changes and MRL lesions being more common in group I. Cognitive impairment, mood disorders, fatigue, cerebrovascular complications are common with HCV infection especially when associated with+ve cryoglobulins, ACL and antinuclear antibodies

Hepatitis C virus and peripheral neurological complications in Egyptian patients

Neurological complications in HCV-infected patients occur predominantly in the peripheral nervous system. Vasculitic neuropathy is the most firmly linked neurologic illness associated with HCV infection. This type of neuropathy occurs frequently in the presence of cryoglobulinemia. HCV-related cranial neuropathies have been also reported. This study was conducted to investigate the various peripheral neurological complications of chronic hepatitis C infection and their possible pathogenetic mechanisms. This study was conducted on 160 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection comprised two subgroups: group I, composed of 80 chronic hepatitis C patients with clinically apparent neurological complication[s], and group II, composed of 80 chronic hepatitis C patients neurologically asymptomatic. Patients were subjected to clinical evaluation, estimation of hepatitis markers, cryoglobulins, anticardiolipin antibodies, antinuclear antibodies and nerve conduction studies. Peripheral neuropathies represented the most commonly encountered neurological disorders, occurring in 25 patients [31.25%]. The sensory peripheral neuropathy was the most common type, representing 32% of neuropathic patients [8/25]. A statistically significant difference was found between groups I and II regarding the presence of cryoglobulin and anticardiolipin antibody, being more common in group I. Antinuclear antibody was more common in group I than in group II. Results of nerve conduction studies showed nerves were more affected in group I and in cryoglobulin and ANA positive patients. Peripheral neuropathies represent the most common HCV-related peripheral neurological disorders especially when associated with cryoglobulins and ANA antibodies