Clinical and Immunological Study in Neuropathy Associated with Hepatitis C Viral Infection in Japan
| Project/Area Number |
12670614
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Neurology
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| Research Institution | Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine |
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Principal Investigator |
IJICHI Toshiharu Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Neurology, assistant, 医学部, 助手 (50232351)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
NAKAJIMA Kenji Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (00237265)
KONO Ichiyo Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Neurology, assistant, 医学部, 助手 (50264784)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2000 – 2001
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2001)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥1,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000)
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| Keywords | HCV / Neuropathy / Cryoglobulin |
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| Research Abstract |
1.We studied 11 patients with peripheral neuropathy and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. They presented a combination of chronic sensory polyneuropathy, multiple mononeuropathy, cranial neuropathy, and radiculoneuropathy co-infected with Herpes zoster. Four patients had mixed cryoglobulinemia. In two patients with multiple mononeuropathy related to cryoglobulinemia, their symptoms were worsened by cold exposure. In nerve conduction study, no specific findings were detected, although decrease of combined muscle action potential, sensory nerve action potential, or frequency of F wave were noted. These findings suggest that HCV may be related to various type of neuropathy with or without mixed cryoglobulinemia. We could not show histological findings of these patients because of patient's disagreement for sural nerve biopsy.
2.To investigate subclinical neuropathy, we started electrophysiological study in patients with HCV hepatitis without neurological symptoms. We also started an analysis of Th1 and Th2 lymphocyte subsets in these patients to clarify immunological characteristics of HCV related neuropathies.
3.As a preliminary study, we studied the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the hippocampus of the Mongolian gerbil after transient cerebral ischemia. Neuronal damage was severe on 3 and 7 days after ischemia, and strong iNOS immunoreactivities was noted in correlation with the extent of neuronal damage. We suppose that iNOS has an association with the development of neuropathy. We will apply these immunohistochemical methods for sural nerves of patients with HCV related neuropathy.
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Report
(3 results)
Research Products
(3 results)
