Antidepressant effects of direct‐acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus—Results from a pilot study

Hahn, Daphne; Stokes, Caroline S.; Kaiser, Ralf; Meyer, Markus R.; Lammert, Frank; Gruenhage, Frank

doi:10.1111/eci.13024

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our results document that HCV treatment was associated with sustained declines in depressive symptoms among OAT-maintained PWID actively using drugs, independent of the severity of their symptoms. This result aligns with earlier studies showing that individuals with [ 24 , 25 ] and without [ 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 ] a history of injecting drugs receiving HCV care with DAA experience reductions in depressive symptoms [ 19 , 25 ]. It is noteworthy that our results are the first to extend those findings to PWID with active drug use receiving DAA therapies, as earlier studies that included PWID with active drug use were performed with interferon-based therapies [ 5 , 28 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Studies exploring incidence of depressive symptoms [ 12–14 ] showed remarkably lower rates of depression (5.6%–14.6% vs 34.8%) than reported in earlier studies with interferon-based regimens [ 15 ]. The vast majority of studies evaluating depressive symptoms during the course of DAA treatment have demonstrated that DAA therapy does not worsen depressive symptoms either during treatment or after treatment completion [ 11 , 16–18 ], with some of these studies showing either reductions in depressive symptoms [ 19–23 ] or reductions in the gravity of problems related to depression [ 24 , 25 ]. It is noteworthy that none of these studies included people actively using or injecting drugs, despite the fact that PWID represent the largest population infected with HCV in the United States [ 26 ].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Declines in Depressive Symptoms Among People who Inject Drugs Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals While on Opioid Agonist Therapy

Pericot‐Valverde

Heo

Niu

et al. 2020

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) frequently co-occurs with symptoms of depression, which are aggravated on interferon-based regimens. However, it is unknown whether HCV treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has effects on depressive symptoms among people who inject drugs (PWID). In this study, we examined changes in depressive symptoms during and after HCV treatment among PWID on opioid agonist therapies (OATs). Methods Participants were 141 PWID who achieved sustained viral response after on-site HCV treatment at 3 OAT programs. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI-II) at baseline, every 4 weeks during treatment, and 12 and 24 weeks after treatment completion. Current diagnosis of depression or other psychiatric diagnoses were obtained through chart review. Use of illicit drugs was measured by urine toxicology screening. Alcohol use was measured using the Addiction Severity Index–Lite. Results Of the 141 PWID infected with HCV, 24.1% had severe, 9.9% had moderate, 15.6% had mild, and 50.4% had minimal levels of depression as per BDI-II scores at baseline. HCV treatment was significantly associated with reductions in depressive symptoms that persisted long term, regardless of symptom severity (P < .001) or presence of depression (P ≤ .01) or other psychiatric diagnoses (P ≤ .01) at baseline. Concurrent drug use (P ≤ .001) or hazardous alcohol drinking (P ≤ .001) did not interfere with reductions in depressive symptoms. Conclusions Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among HCV-infected PWID. HCV treatment was associated with sustained reductions in depressive symptoms. HCV therapy with DAAs may have important implications for PWID that go beyond HCV cure.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Declines in Depressive Symptoms Among People who Inject Drugs Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals While on Opioid Agonist Therapy

Pericot‐Valverde

Heo

Niu

et al. 2020

Open Forum Infectious Diseases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A significant improvement in fatigue and depressive symptoms has been observed also in other studies with different DAAs either alone or in combination with ribavirin [75]. These effects are also observed when adding simeprevir to an IFN-ribavirin regimen, which results in a shorter worsening of fatigue and depressive symptoms in treated patients, especially among those achieving SVR [76].…”

Section: Direct-acting Antiviral Agents (Daa)supporting

confidence: 64%

Neuroimaging Findings in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Correlation with Neurocognitive and Neuropsychiatric Manifestations

Tagliapietra

Monaco

2020

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is commonly associated with neurocognitive dysfunction, altered neuropsychological performance and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Quantifiable neuropsychological changes in sustained attention, working memory, executive function, verbal learning and recall are the hallmark of HCV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HCV-AND). This constellation is at variance with the neuropsychological complex that is seen in minimal hepatic encephalopathy, which is typified by an array of alterations in psychomotor speed, selective attention and visuo-constructive function. Noncognitive symptoms, including sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety and fatigue, which are less easily quantifiable, are frequently encountered and can dominate the clinical picture and the clinical course of patients with chronic HCV infection. More recently, an increased vulnerability to Parkinson’s disease among HCV-infected patients has also been reported. The degree to which neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric changes are due to HCV replication within brain tissues or HCV-triggered peripheral immune activation remain to be determined. Without absolute evidence that clearly exonerates or indicts HCV, our understanding of the so-called “HCV brain syndrome”, relies primarily on clinical and neuropsychological assessments, although other comorbidities and substance abuse may impact on neurocognitive function, thus confounding an appropriate recognition. In recent years, a number of functional and structural brain imaging studies have been of help in recognizing possible biological markers of HCV-AND, thus providing a rationale for guiding and justifying antiviral therapy in selected cases. Here, we review clinical, neuroradiological, and therapeutic responses to interferon-based and interferon-free regimens in HCV-related cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorder.

show abstract

“…Nonetheless, other antivirals generally only target viral replication with no primary or direct effect on the accompanying inflammation and should therefore not have significant effects on psychiatric symptom development. In this regard, sofosbuvir-based anti-hepatitis C regimens have been associated with improved mood via its kynurenine enhancing effects [ 247 ], whereas NE-affecting antidepressants have been reported to reduce the antiviral properties of the anti-hepatitis C drug, IFN-α [ 248 ], suggesting a minor, yet sensitive interplay between antivirals and CNS-acting drugs.…”

Section: The Interaction Between Viral-induced Inflammation and The Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

The neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19: Interactions with psychiatric illness and pharmacological treatment

Vuren

Steyn

Brink

et al. 2021

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Antidepressant effects of direct‐acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus—Results from a pilot study

Cited by 10 publications

References 38 publications

Declines in Depressive Symptoms Among People who Inject Drugs Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals While on Opioid Agonist Therapy

Declines in Depressive Symptoms Among People who Inject Drugs Treated With Direct-Acting Antivirals While on Opioid Agonist Therapy

Neuroimaging Findings in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Correlation with Neurocognitive and Neuropsychiatric Manifestations

The neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19: Interactions with psychiatric illness and pharmacological treatment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About