Cognitive impairment in children with chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Case control study
Ibtihal Ma Ibrahim1, Amal Haikal1, Khadiga M Ali2
1Psychiatry Department, Mansoura Faculty of medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Insights
Children with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection show cognitive impairment linked to depression and liver inflammation. Social class also impacts cognitive function in these pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hepatology
- Child Psychology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease in children.
- Cognitive and psychological impacts of HCV in pediatric populations require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cognitive impairment and psychological status in treatment-naïve children with HCV against a control group.
- To identify predictors of cognitive impairment in pediatric HCV patients.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 102 treatment-naïve children with HCV and matched controls (ages 7-17).
- Assessment of cognitive functioning, behavior, depression, and anxiety.
- Inclusion of laboratory investigations and liver biopsy for disease activity evaluation.
Main Results:
- Depression scores correlated negatively with liver biopsy activity and positively with white blood cell count (WBCS).
- Anxiety scores positively correlated with WBCS.
- Cognitive scores (Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, Total IQ) correlated with social class and liver biopsy activity. Higher depression predicted lower verbal IQ.
Conclusions:
- Depression, social class, and liver inflammation are significant predictors of cognitive impairment in children with HCV.
- Psychological and socio-economic factors play a crucial role in the cognitive health of pediatric HCV patients.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common cause of chronic liver disease of infectious etiology in children. This study aims to compare cognitive impairment, and psychological status of treatment-naïve HCV children with control group. Treatment-naïve children with HCV and an equal control group of children of matched age and gender were recruited. Assessment included measures of children's cognitive functioning, behavior, depression and anxiety as well as laboratory investigations and liver biopsy. Overall 102 children of both genders were recruited; the majority was from rural areas and from middle social class. Their age ranged from 7 to 17 years old. Only 6.9% reported positive family history of Psychiatric disorders while 35.3% reported current Psychiatric disorder. The most frequent diagnosis in the sample was depression (16.7%). Depression scores correlated negatively with liver biopsy activity (p = 0.024) and positively with WBCS (p = 0.0024). Anxiety scores correlated positively with WBCS (p = 0.017). Verbal IQ, performance IQ and total IQ correlated with the social class and with the liver biopsy activity. Also it was found that higher depression scores can predict lower verbal IQ. Depression, social class and liver Inflammation are predictors of cognitive impairment in children with HCV.
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