Reduced frontal activation during verbal fluency task in chronic hepatitis C patients with interferon‐based therapy as measured by near‐infrared spectroscopy. Issue 3 (30th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abe, Kazumichi; Wada, Akira; Oshima, Sachie; Kono, Soichi; Takahashi, Atsushi; Kanno, Yukiko; Imaizumi, Hiromichi; Hayashi, Manabu; Okai, Ken; Niwa, Shin‐Ichi; Yabe, Hirooki; Ohira, Hiromasa
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 47:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: E55
• Page End: E63
• Publication Date: 2016-05-30
• Subjects: brain activation -- chronic hepatitis C -- near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) -- oxy‐hemoglobin -- pegylated interferon; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12721
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

Abstract : Aim: Psychiatric side‐effects are the main reason for discontinuation of interferon (IFN)‐based therapy. Recent developments in near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) have enabled non‐invasive clarification of brain functions in psychiatric disorders. We prospectively evaluated brain activation in 20 chronic hepatitis C patients with or without IFN‐based therapy by using NIRS during a verbal fluency task (VFT). Methods: The relative concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin were measured while patients completed a questionnaire survey at the start of treatment and at 4 and 12 weeks during treatment, using NIRS. Results: The VFT performance did not change among the two groups. Patients with IFN‐based therapy showed significantly lower activation during VFT in frontal channels at 12 weeks than those at the start of treatment and control ( P < 0.05). Their Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores were significantly higher at 12 weeks than those at the start of treatment, although major depressive symptoms were not found (8.3 ± 7.9 vs. 13.2 ± 6.0, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The decrease in oxygenated hemoglobin concentrations of the frontal lobe detected using NIRS in this study reflects hypofunction of the frontal lobe. This functional decline that was caused by IFN‐based therapy may be associated with the prodromal phase of depression.