Saint Laurent Du Maroni

Peripheral neuropathies PN affect about 1% of people worldwide, especially older adults, causing problems with walking and chronic pain that reduce quality of life. In French Guiana, researchers think that unknown causes of PN may be linked to exposure to neurotoxic traditional plant remedies, arboviral infections like Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue, and mercury contamination from illegal gold mining. This study aims to explore how these environmental factors relate to PN, including in people with diabetic neuropathy or chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy. This is a prospective multicenter case-control study conducted at hospitals in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent du Maroni. Participants include patients with diagnosed diabetic peripheral neuropathy or chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy, and a control group of hospital patients without neuropathy. At the initial visit, blood, urine, and hair samples will be collected to test for arbovirus antibodies and measure heavy metals like mercury and lead. Participants will also complete a questionnaire about their use of traditional plants. Participants will not have follow-up visits as part of the study. The main outcome measured is the comparison of exposure rates to these environmental factors between the case and control groups. Additional assessments include identifying genetic mutations and determining peripheral nerve disability at the time of enrollment. The study will help understand environmental risks that might explain unexplained cases of PN in this region.