Peripheral NeuropathiesYANANERNCT07341997
Environmental Factors Associated With Peripheral Neuropathies in French Guiana
A study testing Case Group in people with Peripheral Neuropathies and Environmental Risk Factor, run by Admin CIC at 2 sites in French Guiana.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Peripheral Neuropathies, Environmental Risk Factor, Lead Neuropathy
- What is being tested?
- Case Group
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 78 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesFrench Guiana
- Study dates
- 8 Dec 2025to Jul 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Vincent De Paul SENEKIAN, Principal Investigator contact
French Guiana2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne
Cayenne, 97300
Nathalie DESCHAMPS, Principal Investigator, +594 594 397 317, nathalie.deschamps@ch-cayenne.fr
Mathieu NACHER, mathieu.nacher@ch-cayenne.fr
- Recruiting
Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Guyanais
Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, 97320
Vincent De Paul SENEKIAN, Principal Investigator, v.senekian@ch-ouestguyane.fr
Nathalie DESCHAMPS, Principal Investigator, nathalie.deschamps@ch-cayenne.fr
About this study
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.
Read the 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.
- Conditions
- Peripheral Neuropathies, Environmental Risk Factor, Lead Neuropathy, Mercury Neuropathy, Bita
- Being tested
- Case Group
- Keywords
- Preipheral neuropathies, French guiana, Mercury, Lead, Arboviruses, Environment
- Medical subject headings
- Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Case GroupOther
Patients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control group | Active comparator | Patients hospitalised or consulting at hospitals in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent du Maroni who do not have peripheral neuropathy. Receives: Other: Case Group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Comparison of exposure rates among cases and controls
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.
Measured: At inclusion
Secondary outcomes (2)
Genetic mutations indentification
Secondary endpoint will be identification of genetic mutations responsible for peripheral neuropathy
Measured: At inclusion
Peripheral Nerve Disability (PND) determination
Secondary endpoint will be determination of Peripheral Nerve Disability (PND)
Measured: At inclusion
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jan 2026
- Study start8 Dec 2025
- Primary completionJul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (12)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Peripheral NeuropathiesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- 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.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Admin CIC
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Admin CIC, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne
- Investigators
- Mathieu NACHER, Study chair, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07341997
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- YANANER
- Acronym
- YANANER
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 6 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Nacher M, Ouedraogo E, Succo T, Guarmit B, Djossou F, Stettler L, Alvarez F, Elenga N, Adenis A, Couppié P. L'infection VIH en Guyane: revue historique et tendances actuelles. Bull Epidemiol Hebd. 2020;2-3:43-51. http://beh. santepubliquefrance.fr/beh/2020/2-3/pdf/2020_2-3_2.pdf.
Cardoso * T. BA. Le mercure en Guyane française : synthèse des études d'imprégnation et d'impact sanitaires menées de 1994 à 2005. Bulletin Epidémiologique Hebdomadaire - BEH. 2010 Apr;13:118-20.
Lernould B. Intoxications à la Bita dans le bassin du Maroni en 2011, série de 4 cas, aspects cliniques et paracliniques, botaniques et de santé publique. Th Doc Méd. Université du Droit et de la Santé - Lille 2, Lille, France. 2013. https://pepite- depot.univ-lille.fr/LIBRE/Th_Medecine/2013/2013LIL2M304. pdf.
Graille J, Blaizot R, Darrigade AS, Sainte-Marie D, Nacher M, Schaub R, Couppie P. Leprosy in French Guiana 2007-2014: a re-emerging public health problem. Br J Dermatol. 2020 Jan;182(1):237-239. doi: 10.1111/bjd.18334. Epub 2019 Sep 8. No abstract available.
PubMed 31286485Sabbah N, Carles G, Demar M, Nacher M. Diabetes in French Guiana, adapting national standards of therapeutic education and care to the amazonian challenge. World J Diabetes. 2021 Feb 15;12(2):98-107. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i2.98.
PubMed 33594330Maurice L, Barraza F, Blondet I, Ho-A-Chuck M, Tablon J, Brousse P, Demar M, Schreck E. Childhood lead exposure of Amerindian communities in French Guiana: an isotopic approach to tracing sources. Environ Geochem Health. 2021 Nov;43(11):4741-4757. doi: 10.1007/s10653-021-00944-9. Epub 2021 May 11.
PubMed 33974199Matos LM, Borges AT, Palmeira AB, Lima VM, Maciel EP, Fernandez RNM, Mendes JPL, Romero GAS. Frequency of exposure to arboviruses and characterization of Guillain Barre syndrome in a clinical cohort of patients treated at a tertiary referral center in Brasilia, Federal District. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2022 Apr 8;55:e03062021. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0306-2021. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 35416870Maury-Brachet R, Gentes S, Dassie EP, Feurtet-Mazel A, Vigouroux R, Laperche V, Gonzalez P, Hanquiez V, Mesmer-Dudons N, Durrieu G, Legeay A. Mercury contamination levels in the bioindicator piscivorous fish Hoplias aimara in French Guiana rivers: mapping for risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020 Feb;27(4):3624-3636. doi: 10.1007/s11356-018-3983-x. Epub 2019 Jan 4.
PubMed 30610584Laperche V, Hellal J, Maury-Brachet R, Joseph B, Laporte P, Breeze D, Blanchard F. Regional distribution of mercury in sediments of the main rivers of French Guiana (Amazonian basin). Springerplus. 2014 Jun 26;3:322. doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-3-322. eCollection 2014.
PubMed 25045610Schmidt HH, Waddington-Cruz M, Botteman MF, Carter JA, Chopra AS, Hopps M, Stewart M, Fallet S, Amass L. Estimating the global prevalence of transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve. 2018 May;57(5):829-837. doi: 10.1002/mus.26034. Epub 2018 Feb 1.
PubMed 29211930Pasnoor M, Nascimento OJ, Trivedi J, Wolfe GI, Nations S, Herbelin L, de Freitas MG, Quintanilha G, Khan S, Dimachkie M, Barohn R. North America and South America (NA-SA) neuropathy project. Int J Neurosci. 2013 Aug;123(8):563-7. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2013.782026. Epub 2013 Apr 17.
PubMed 23461611Hanewinckel R, van Oijen M, Ikram MA, van Doorn PA. The epidemiology and risk factors of chronic polyneuropathy. Eur J Epidemiol. 2016 Jan;31(1):5-20. doi: 10.1007/s10654-015-0094-6. Epub 2015 Dec 23.
PubMed 26700499
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Environmental Factors Associated With Peripheral Neuropathies in French Guiana
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07341997
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- YANANER / YANANER
- Conditions
- Peripheral Neuropathies, Environmental Risk Factor, Lead Neuropathy, Mercury Neuropathy, Bita
- Keywords
- Preipheral neuropathies, French guiana, Mercury, Lead, Arboviruses, Environment
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 78 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Admin CICUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 8 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- 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.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control group | Active comparator | Other: Case GroupPatients hospitalised or consulting at hospitals in Cayenne and Saint-Laurent du Maroni who do not have peripheral neuropathy. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 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.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Case GroupPatients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy or chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy. | Other | Control group |
Primary outcome
Comparison of exposure rates among cases and controls
Time frame: 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.
2 secondary outcomes
Genetic mutations indentification
Time frame: At inclusion
Peripheral Nerve Disability (PND) determination
Time frame: At inclusion
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jan 2026.
- BackgroundNacher M, Ouedraogo E, Succo T, Guarmit B, Djossou F, Stettler L, Alvarez F, Elenga N, Adenis A, Couppié P. L'infection VIH en Guyane: revue historique et tendances actuelles. Bull Epidemiol Hebd. 2020;2-3:43-51. http://beh. santepubliquefrance.fr/beh/2020/2-3/pdf/2020_2-3_2.pdf.
- BackgroundCardoso * T. BA. Le mercure en Guyane française : synthèse des études d'imprégnation et d'impact sanitaires menées de 1994 à 2005. Bulletin Epidémiologique Hebdomadaire - BEH. 2010 Apr;13:118-20.
- BackgroundLernould B. Intoxications à la Bita dans le bassin du Maroni en 2011, série de 4 cas, aspects cliniques et paracliniques, botaniques et de santé publique. Th Doc Méd. Université du Droit et de la Santé - Lille 2, Lille, France. 2013. https://pepite- depot.univ-lille.fr/LIBRE/Th_Medecine/2013/2013LIL2M304. pdf.
- Background: PubMed 31286485Graille J, Blaizot R, Darrigade AS, Sainte-Marie D, Nacher M, Schaub R, Couppie P. Leprosy in French Guiana 2007-2014: a re-emerging public health problem. Br J Dermatol. 2020 Jan;182(1):237-239. doi: 10.1111/bjd.18334. Epub 2019 Sep 8. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 33594330Sabbah N, Carles G, Demar M, Nacher M. Diabetes in French Guiana, adapting national standards of therapeutic education and care to the amazonian challenge. World J Diabetes. 2021 Feb 15;12(2):98-107. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i2.98.
- Background: PubMed 33974199Maurice L, Barraza F, Blondet I, Ho-A-Chuck M, Tablon J, Brousse P, Demar M, Schreck E. Childhood lead exposure of Amerindian communities in French Guiana: an isotopic approach to tracing sources. Environ Geochem Health. 2021 Nov;43(11):4741-4757. doi: 10.1007/s10653-021-00944-9. Epub 2021 May 11.
- Background: PubMed 35416870Matos LM, Borges AT, Palmeira AB, Lima VM, Maciel EP, Fernandez RNM, Mendes JPL, Romero GAS. Frequency of exposure to arboviruses and characterization of Guillain Barre syndrome in a clinical cohort of patients treated at a tertiary referral center in Brasilia, Federal District. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2022 Apr 8;55:e03062021. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0306-2021. eCollection 2022.
- Background: PubMed 30610584Maury-Brachet R, Gentes S, Dassie EP, Feurtet-Mazel A, Vigouroux R, Laperche V, Gonzalez P, Hanquiez V, Mesmer-Dudons N, Durrieu G, Legeay A. Mercury contamination levels in the bioindicator piscivorous fish Hoplias aimara in French Guiana rivers: mapping for risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020 Feb;27(4):3624-3636. doi: 10.1007/s11356-018-3983-x. Epub 2019 Jan 4.
- Background: PubMed 25045610Laperche V, Hellal J, Maury-Brachet R, Joseph B, Laporte P, Breeze D, Blanchard F. Regional distribution of mercury in sediments of the main rivers of French Guiana (Amazonian basin). Springerplus. 2014 Jun 26;3:322. doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-3-322. eCollection 2014.
- Background: PubMed 29211930Schmidt HH, Waddington-Cruz M, Botteman MF, Carter JA, Chopra AS, Hopps M, Stewart M, Fallet S, Amass L. Estimating the global prevalence of transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy. Muscle Nerve. 2018 May;57(5):829-837. doi: 10.1002/mus.26034. Epub 2018 Feb 1.
- Background: PubMed 23461611Pasnoor M, Nascimento OJ, Trivedi J, Wolfe GI, Nations S, Herbelin L, de Freitas MG, Quintanilha G, Khan S, Dimachkie M, Barohn R. North America and South America (NA-SA) neuropathy project. Int J Neurosci. 2013 Aug;123(8):563-7. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2013.782026. Epub 2013 Apr 17.
- Background: PubMed 26700499Hanewinckel R, van Oijen M, Ikram MA, van Doorn PA. The epidemiology and risk factors of chronic polyneuropathy. Eur J Epidemiol. 2016 Jan;31(1):5-20. doi: 10.1007/s10654-015-0094-6. Epub 2015 Dec 23.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Vincent De Paul SENEKIAN, Principal Investigator contact
Mathieu NACHER study chair
Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Case Group in people with Peripheral Neuropathies and Environmental Risk Factor, run by Admin CIC at 2 sites in French Guiana.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in French Guiana. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nathalie DESCHAMPS, Principal Investigator (+594 594 397 317, nathalie.deschamps@ch-cayenne.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Comparison of exposure rates among cases and controls (time frame: At inclusion). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07341997, which also lists 12 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jan 2026.