Hepatitis C virus-associated neuropathy accompanied by eosinophilic vasculitis and granuloma formation

We herein report the case of a patient with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated neuropathy with atypical pathological findings of a biopsied sural nerve. A 48-year-old man was admitted for a gait disturbance. Purpura and edema on the legs and hyperalgesia on the distal extremities were noted. The plasma HCV viral load was high, and cryoglobulin was positive. In the biopsied sural nerve, perivascular eosinophilic infiltration was associated with extravascular granuloma formation in the epineurium. The patient's symptoms disappeared following treatment with interferon-α and ribavirin. The present case suggests that HCV infection can lead to peripheral neuropathy associated with eosinophilic infiltration and granuloma formation.