Table 2

Main characteristics of the peripheral neuropathy in four patients with hepatitis C virus without mixed cryoglobulinaemia

Characteristics Patient No 1 Patient No 2 Patient No 3 Patient No 4
Peripheral neuropathySensory polyneuropathy of legsSevere motor and sensory multiplex mononeuropathy of three limbsMild sensory multiplex mononeuropathy of four limbsSensory multiplex mononeuropathy of four limbs
Initial electromyographic studyAxonal sensory polyneuropathySevere neuropathy with low motor and sensory velocitiesAxonal sensory neuropathyAxonal sensory neuropathy
Neuromuscular biopsy before treatmentMuscular atrophy with mild denervation; axonal sensory nerve involvementNormal muscle; axonal sensory nerve loss with perineural, venular, and arteriolar inflammatory infiltratesMuscular atrophy; inflammatory axonal neuropathy with perivenular and arteriolar lymphoid infiltratesNormal muscle; axonal sensory neuropathy without inflammatory infiltrate
TreatmentInterferon α (3 mIU three times a week)Plasmapheresis (10 sessions)Not treatedInterferon α (3 mIU three times a week) for 10 months2-151
++
Ursodesoxycholic acid (400 mg/day) for 24 monthsPrednisone 1 mg/kg/day during 2 months2-150
Outcome after treatmentProgressive improvementImprovementStableImprovement

  • ↵2-150 Interferon was contraindicated because of depressive status.

  • ↵2-151 Interferon had to be stopped because of severe depressive status.