Related Experiment Videos
[Attention abnormalities in patients with chronic hepatitis C after pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin
Tomasz Pawełczyk1, Jolanta Białkowska, Maciej Jabłkowski
1Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi, Klinika Zaburzeń Afektywnych i Psychotycznych. tpawelczyk@csk.umed.lodz.pl
The Aim Of The Study:
To (a) describe the influence of peg-IFNalpha 2a and 2b on attention processes and (b) to assess whether attention abnormalities induced by peg-IFNalpha/RBW resolve 8 weeks after treatment discontinuation in chronic hepatitis C patients.
Material And Methods:
26 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peg-IFNalpha2a (n=18) or 2b (n=8) and RBV were enrolled in the study. Attention processes were tested three times: before the beginning (t=0), after 12 weeks of medication (t=1) and 8 weeks after treatment discontinuation (t=2). Attention was assessed with Brickenkamp d2 test and the results were compared in groups of patients treated with different kinds of peg-IFNalpha.
Results:
The two kinds of peg-IFNalpha did not differ significantly regarding the influence on attention processes. 8 weeks after treatment discontinuation (t=2) there was observed a significant decrease all aspects of attention measured by d2 test, i.e. work accuracy, speed of processing and ability to focus attention comparing with t=0 and t=1.
Conclusions:
Peg-IFNalpha/RBW therapy is connected with a decrease in attention processes performance and the two kinds of peg-interferon alpha (2a and 2b) may exert a similar influence. Attention dysfunction did not resolve 8 weeks after treatment discontinuation and may be the irreversible effect of the dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex or anterior cingulate cortex damage.
Related Concept Videos
Hepatitis
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment
Esophageal Varices-II: Clinical Features and Management
In the initial assessment, a thorough review of the patient's medical history is vital to identify risk factors such as liver disease, alcohol abuse, or...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis