[Neuralgic amyotrophy associated to hepatitis E virus infection]

Diaphragm impairment in patients admitted for severe COVID-19

Among patients affected by the virus COVID-19, physicians have observed ventilation disorders. It is relevant to assess neurological involvement, including the role of diaphragmatic function. Its possible impairment could be related to the systemic inflammatory response and disease progression that both typify COVID-19 infection. We distinguished two groups (severe group (SG) and mild group (MG)) according to the severity of respiratory symptomatology. We performed neurophysiological and sonography studies to evaluate the diaphragmatic function. Regarding the sonography variables, we identified statistically significant differences in the right mean diaphragmatic thickness along with the expiration, showing 1.56 mm (SEM: 0.11) in the SG vs 1.92 mm (SEM: 0.19) in the MG (p = 0.042). The contractibility of both hemidiaphragms was 15% lower in the severe group, though this difference is not statistically significant. In our examination of the neurophysiological variables, in the amplitude responses, we observed a greater difference between responses from both phrenic nerves as follows: the raw differences in amplitude were 0.40 μV (SEM: 0.14) in the SG vs 0.35 μV (SEM: 0.19) in the MG and the percentage difference was 25.92% (SEM: 7.22) in the SG vs 16.28% (SEM: 4.38%) in the MG. Although diaphragmatic dysfunction is difficult to detect, our combined functional and morphological approach with phrenic electroneurograms and chest ultrasounds could improve diagnostic sensitivity. We suggest that diaphragmatic dysfunction could play a relevant role in respiratory disturbance in hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19.

Neurological manifestations of hepatitis E virus infection: An overview

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of repeated waterborne outbreaks of acute hepatitis. Recently, several extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs) have been described in patients with HEV infection. Of these, neurological disorders are the most common EHM associated with HEV. The involvement of both the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system can occur together or in isolation. Patients can present with normal liver function tests, which can often be misleading for physicians. There is a paucity of data on HEV-related neurological manifestations; and these data are mostly described as case reports and case series. In this review, we analyzed data of 163 reported cases of HEV-related neurological disorders. The mechanisms of pathogenesis, clinico-demographic profile, and outcomes of the HEV-related neurological disorders are described in this article. Nerve root and plexus disorder were found to be the most commonly reported disease, followed by meningoencephalitis.

Parsonage-Turner syndrome associated with hepatitis E infection in immunocompetent patients

Introduction The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the leading cause of acute hepatitis around the world. In recent years, knowledge has increased concerning extrahepatic manifestations caused by HEV, including neurological manifestations such as Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS). PTS is characterized by severe shoulder or arm pain and patchy paresis with muscle weakness. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between HEV and PTS. Materials and Methods We reported two cases of PTS associated with HEV, which were diagnosed in a short period of time in the same village. PTS was diagnosed by physical examination and electrophysiological studies, and serology testing for IgM, low-avidity IgG, and RNA of HEV established the diagnosis of acute HEV infection. Results A 44-year-old man who presented cervicobrachial pain accompanied by paresthesia, dyspnea, and isolated derangement of liver enzymes and 57-year-old women with cervical pain radiated to upper limbs, paresthesia, and liver cytolysis, although, this patient was initially diagnosed as having drug-induced hepatitis. Finally, the diagnosis was Parsonage- Turner syndrome associated with hepatitis e virus. In both patients, symptoms were bilateral and they required hospital admission. Both consumed vegetables are grown in a local patch and the phylogenetic analysis showed genotype 3f. Then, we reviewed the literature on PTS and HEV and we found 62 previously described cases that were more likely to be men (86.20 %) with more frequent bilateral symptoms (85.71 %). Genotype 3 is the most commonly associated. Three of those cases were diagnosed in Spain. Conclusions According to our findings, HEV should be considered in patients with neuralgic amyotrophy, including those with the absence of liver cytolysis.

Hepatitis E virus: Infection beyond the liver?

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are not limited to the liver but may also affect other organs. Several diseases, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuralgic amyotrophy, glomerulonephritis, cryoglobulinemia, pancreatitis, lymphoma, thrombopenia, meningitis, thyroiditis and myocarditis have been observed in the context of hepatitis E. To date, the definite pathophysiological links between HEV and extrahepatic manifestations are not yet established. However, it is suggested that HEV infection might be causative based on serological studies, case series, in vitro data and animal models. In particular, neuronal and renal diseases as well as pancreatitis seem to be caused by HEV, while a causative relationship between HEV and other diseases is more doubtful. Either direct cytopathic tissue damage by extrahepatic replication, or immunological processes induced by an overwhelming host immune response, are possible origins of HEV-associated extrahepatic manifestations. Hepatologists should be aware of the possibility that acute or chronically HEV-infected patients could develop extrahepatic manifestations. Neurologists, nephrologists, rheumatologists and other groups of physicians should consider HEV infection as a potential differential diagnosis when observing one of the diseases described in this review. Ribavirin and steroids have been used in small groups of patients with extrahepatic manifestations of HEV, but the efficacy of these drugs still needs to be verified by large, multicenter studies. This article comprehensively reviews the published literature regarding HEV and extrahepatic manifestations. We discuss the probability of specific extrahepatic diseases being caused by previous or ongoing HEV infection, and summarize the published knowledge about antiviral treatment in extrahepatic disorders.

Parsonage-Turner syndrome due to autochthonous acute genotype 3f hepatitis E virus infection in a nonimmunocompromised 55-year-old patient

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging autochthonous disease in industrialized countries. Extra-hepatic manifestations, in particular neurologic manifestations, have been reported in HEV infection. Only a few cases of hepatitis E-associated Parsonage-Turner syndrome have been reported, and HEV genotypes were rarely determined. Here, we report the case of a Parsonage-Turner syndrome associated with an acute autochthonous HEV infection in a 55-year-old immunocompetent patient. HEV genomic RNA was detected in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF), and molecular phylogenetic analysis of HEV was performed. The interest of this case lies in its detailed description notably the molecular analysis of HEV RNA isolated from serum and CSF. HEV infection should be considered in diagnostic investigations of neurologic manifestations associated with liver function perturbations.

Neuralgic Amyotrophy Associated With Hepatitis E Virus Infection: First Case in the United States

Hepatitis E is an emerging viral infection in developed countries. It can present with multiple extra-hepatic manifestations, including neuralgic amyotrophy. We report a 52-year-old man who presented with neck and shoulder pain followed by orthopnea and left arm weakness. Electrodiagnostic testing showed left phrenic neuropathy and denervation in bilateral C5 and C6 myotomes. He also had elevated liver enzymes, which led to the diagnosis of acute hepatitis E. This is the first case of neuralgic amyotrophy associated with hepatitis E in the United States. Hepatitis E should be considered in patients with neuralgic amyotrophy, particularly men with bilateral symptoms, and if there is unexplained elevation of transaminases. The role of antiviral therapy remains unclear.

Neuralgic amyotrophy triggered by hepatitis E virus: a particular phenotype

The neuralgic amyotrophy may be of difficult diagnosis, due to phenotypic variability, with different initial presentations (upper plexus multiple mononeuropathy, lumbosacral involvement, distal reached, phrenic involvement). To date, there is little guidance on these patients' therapeutic management, especially those for which neuralgic amyotrophy is triggered by hepatitis E virus (HEV-NA). The study aims to identify specific features that characterize patients bearing the neuralgic amyotrophy triggered by HEV. We first describe a new case report of HEV-neuralgic amyotrophy, with delayed diaphragmatic reach. Then, the literature was searched for reports of HEV-NA (n = 39), and neuralgic amyotrophy with phrenic paresis (n = 42) from 1999 to June 2016. Relevant data were retrieved, analyzed and compared with the parameters of idiopathic neuralgic amyotrophy (n = 199) of the largest cohort, described by Van Alfen and Van Engelen in 2006. Compared to the published cohort, HEV-NA patients were more likely to be men (M/F 34/5 vs. 136/63, p = 0.017), with more frequent bilateral symptoms (86.8% cases vs. 28.5%, p < 0.0001) as well as phrenic paresis (18.0 vs. 6.6%, p = 0.028). The clinical improvement is poor, with 15.6% of cases with remission only. A particular phenotype characteristic of the HEV-induced neuralgic amyotrophy has arisen. Our findings call for action in validating the above-mentioned features that illustrate the HEV-NA cases as an early diagnosis would prevent complications, especially the phrenic damage often associated with a worse functional outcome.

Hepatitis E virus and neurological injury

Hepatitis E is hyperendemic in many developing countries in Asia and Africa, and is caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 1 and 2, which are spread via the faecal-oral route by contaminated water. Recent data show that HEV infection is also endemic in developed countries. In such geographical settings, hepatitis E is caused by HEV genotypes 3 and 4, and is mainly a porcine zoonosis. In a minority of cases, HEV causes acute and chronic hepatitis, but infection is commonly asymptomatic or unrecognized. HEV infection is associated with a number of extrahepatic manifestations, including a range of neurological injuries. To date, 91 cases of HEV-associated neurological injury--most commonly, Guillain-Barré syndrome, neuralgic amyotrophy, and encephalitis/myelitis--have been reported. Here, we review the reported cases, discuss possible pathogenic mechanisms, and present our perspectives on future directions and research questions.