HCV RNA Genomic sequences and HCV-E2 glycoprotein in sural nerve biopsies from HCV-infected patients with peripheral neuropathy.

These results indicate that nerve vascular HCV RNA/E2 deposits associated to perivascular inflammatory infiltrates were similar in chronically HCV-infected patients, regardless of cryoglobulin occurrence. Given the failure to demonstrate HCV productive infection in the examined sural nerve biopsies, nerve damage is likely to result from virus-triggered immune-mediated mechanisms.