Blinded, prospective, and serial evaluation by quantitative-EEG in interferon-alpha-treated hepatitis-C

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Hepatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Chronic hepatitis C is a significant global health concern.
• Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been a key treatment for hepatitis C, but its neurological side effects are not fully understood.
• Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) offers a sensitive method to assess brain function alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively evaluate the impact of IFN-alpha on brain function in chronic hepatitis C patients using qEEG.
• To determine the reversibility of any observed EEG changes after IFN-alpha treatment cessation.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-six chronic hepatitis C patients received intramuscular IFN-alpha for 24 weeks.
• Serial quantitative EEG recordings were performed before, during (2 and 4 weeks), and after treatment.
• Analysis focused on absolute and relative power in delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands.

Main Results:

• IFN-alpha administration led to significant increases in slow wave absolute powers (delta, theta) and decreases in fast wave absolute powers (alpha 2, beta) across all brain locations.
• Relative power changes mirrored absolute power alterations, while total power and alpha 1 showed no significant changes.
• These EEG abnormalities were reversible, disappearing after treatment completion.

Conclusions:

• IFN-alpha induces reversible diffuse slowing of brain electrical activity, as evidenced by qEEG.
• The observed EEG changes suggest a mild form of IFN-alpha-induced encephalopathy.
• These findings underscore the importance of monitoring neurological function in patients undergoing IFN-alpha therapy.