Cognitive efficiency is associated with endogenous cytokine levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Hilsabeck, Robin C.; Anstead, Gregory M.; Webb, Amy L.; Hoyumpa, Anastasio; Ingmundson, Paul; Holliday, Steve; Zhang, Qiong; Casas, Angela M.; Jovel, Marci; Stern, Stephen L.

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.01.017

« Previous Next »Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 221, Issue 1 , Pages 53-61, 15 April 2010

Cognitive efficiency is associated with endogenous cytokine levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Robin C. Hilsabeck
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, United States
- Corresponding author. South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States. Tel.: +1 210 617 5121 (office); fax: +1 210 949 3301.
Gregory M. Anstead
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, United States
Amy L. Webb
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, United States
Anastasio Hoyumpa
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, United States
Paul Ingmundson
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
Steve Holliday
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, United States
Qiong Zhang
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
Angela M. Casas
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
Marci Jovel
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
Stephen L. Stern
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, United States

Received 12 October 2009; received in revised form 13 January 2010; accepted 29 January 2010. published online 25 February 2010.

Abstract

The etiology of cognitive dysfunction in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is unknown. Among the possibilities is cytokine activation, which has been associated with cognitive dysfunction in other chronic conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between endogenous IFN-α, IL-6, and TNF-α and cognitive functioning in CHC patients. Seventy-eight veterans with CHC underwent cognitive testing and measurement of serum cytokines. In patients with detectable IFN-α, higher levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were related to poorer cognitive functioning. Findings suggest CHC patients with immune responses characterized by elevated IFN-α may be at risk for cognitive difficulties.

Keywords: Hepatitis C, Cytokines, Cognitive dysfunction, Interferon-α, Immune system, ANAM