Lewis-Sumner syndrome in hepatitis C virus infection: a possible pathogenetic association with therapeutic problems.
Caporale CM, Capasso M, Ragno M, Di Muzio A, Uncini A
Clinica Neurologica, Ospedale Clinicizzato S. S. Annunziata, Via dei Vestini, I-66013 Chieti, Italy.
A patient with chronic hepatitis from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection developed Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS). The neuropathy worsened after intravenous immunoglobulins, remitted after intravenous methylprednisolone, relapsed during interferon-alpha, but responded again to steroids continued for 68 weeks with clinical remission and without worsening of hepatitis. We are not aware of other reports of HCV infection and LSS. This association may be coincidental or related to a virus-triggered immune-mediated process. Although the coexistence of a dysimmune neuropathy with hepatitis makes problematic the choice of treatment, we emphasize that the patient's condition during treatment with steroids and the 46 following weeks without therapy has been excellent.
Published 14 June 2006 in Muscle Nerve, 34(1): 116-21.
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