Impact of direct-acting antivirals on neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive dysfunction in chronic hepatitis C patients

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with psychiatric and cognitive dysfunctions. We aimed to investigate depression, anxiety, function of chronic hepatitis (CHC) patients before after treatment direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Forty CHC (20 non-cirrhotic 20 cirrhotic) who had undergone DAA in our outpatient clinic ten controls. administered the Hospital Anxiety Depression questionnaires measure anxiety depression symptoms Cognitive Abilities Screening Instruments (CASI) at beginning 3 months end treatment. Results Sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved all patients. Post-treatment scores showed a significant improvement than pre-treatment ones Regarding CASI, treatment, statistical significance found short-term memory ( P = 0.001), concentration 0.033), abstract thinking judgment 0.024), total 0.001) non-cirrhotic, Also, an seen long-term 0.015), < 0.024) 0.01) cirrhotic. However, these changes were still impaired post-treated cirrhotic compared Conclusions patients' partially improved therapy. Besides, improving status CHC, reversibility dysfunction may indicate importance early stages liver disease.