Abstract
No systematic investigation of the cognitive effects of interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic viral hepatitis has been reported. We have conducted a study to assess the cognitive and neurophysiological effects of alpha-IFN.
Twenty-six non-cirrhotic patients with chronic viral hepatitis were enrolled (19 men; aged 35–66 yrs): 19 had chronic hepatitis C (treatment: alpha-IFN 3 MU s.c. t.i.w.) and 7 had chronic hepatitis B (treatment: alpha-IFN 6 MU s.c. t.i.w). Neurotoxicity was evaluated by cognitive assessments (using a battery of tests that evaluated arousal, memory, attention, visual-spatial abilities, and executive functions), and by a test of neurophysiological function (auditory P300). Urinary free Cortisol excretion and serum TSH were measured. Patients were assessed at baseline (t0), and subsequently after 2 months (tl), and 6 months (t2) of therapy. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA.
Neither impaired cognitive performance nor change of P300 latency was detected during treatment. No change of Cortisol excretion and TSH levels occurred.
In conclusion, no evidence for interferon-induced impaired cognitive function was detected, in spite of the fact that a diverse battery of computer-based and “paper and pencil” tests was administered. Furthermore, the results of the neurophysiological investigation, which depends on cognitive function, did not deteriorate, reinforcing the inference that cognition is not adversely affected by interferon treatment at the doses specified.
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De Toni, E. et al. (2003). Cognitive effects of long-term interferon treatment for chronic viral hepatitis. In: Jones, E.A., Meijer, A.J., Chamuleau, R.A.F.M. (eds) Encephalopathy and Nitrogen Metabolism in Liver Failure. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0159-5_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0159-5_17
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