Bita, Environmental Risk Factor, Lead Neuropathy, Mercury Neuropathy, Peripheral Neuropathies
Conditions
Keywords
Preipheral neuropathies, French guiana, Mercury, Lead, Arboviruses, Environment
Brief summary
Peripheral neuropathies (PN) affect 1% of the global population, particularly the elderly. About 20-30% of cases remain unexplained. In French Guiana, we hypothesize that factors like neurotoxic traditional plant remedies, arboviral disease outbreaks, and mercury exposure from illegal gold mining may contribute to PN. The study aims to assess the association between PN and exposure to arboviral infections, heavy metals, and plant consumption in French Guiana.
Detailed description
Peripheral neuropathies (PN) affect 1% of the global population, with higher prevalence in the elderly. They lead to gait disorders and chronic pain, severely impacting quality of life. Despite thorough investigations, 20-30% of cases have no identified cause. In French Guiana, unique factors may contribute to these neuropathies, including the use of potentially neurotoxic traditional plant remedies and outbreaks of arboviral diseases, which can complicate conditions like Guillain-Barré syndrome. Additionally, illegal gold mining exposes residents to mercury, both directly and through environmental contamination. We hypothesize that these local factors might explain the unidentified cases of PN and exacerbate neuropathies in patients with pre-existing nerve vulnerability, such as diabetic neuropathy. This is a prospective multicenter case-control study being conducted in hospitals in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent du Maroni. At the inclusion visit, blood samples will be taken to assess arbovirus serology, particularly for Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue, as well as to measure levels of heavy metals, including mercury and lead. In addition, urine and hair samples will be taken to analyze these heavy metals. Participants will also fill in a questionnaire about their plant consumption. They will not be followed as part of the research.
Interventions
OTHERCase Group
Patients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy.
Sponsors
Admin CIC
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
This is a prospective multicenter case-control study being conducted in hospitals in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent du Maroni. At the inclusion visit, blood samples will be taken to assess arbovirus serology, particularly for Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue, as well as to measure levels of heavy metals, including mercury and lead. In addition, urine and hair samples will be taken to analyze these heavy metals. Participants will also fill in a questionnaire about their plant consumption.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* For the Case group: patients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy * For the Control group: patients hospitalized or consulting at the hospitals in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent du Maroni, without peripheral neuropathy.
Exclusion criteria
* For the Case and Control groups: patients under the age of 18, those who object to participation and those who are unable to complete the questionnaire.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Comparison of exposure rates among cases and controls | At inclusion | The primary endpoint will be the comparison of rates of exposure to arboviruses, heavy metals and consumption of potentially neurotoxic plants in cases and controls. The heavy metals assay and the questionnaire will be carried out at the inclusion visit. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Peripheral Nerve Disability (PND) determination | At inclusion | Secondary endpoint will be determination of Peripheral Nerve Disability (PND) |
| Genetic mutations indentification | At inclusion | Secondary endpoint will be identification of genetic mutations responsible for peripheral neuropathy |
Countries
French Guiana
Contacts
Primary ContactNathalie DESCHAMPS, Principal Investigator
Backup ContactVincent De Paul SENEKIAN, Principal Investigator
Outcome results
None listed