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Reduced frontal activation during verbal fluency task in chronic hepatitis C patients with interferon‐based therapy as measured by near‐infrared spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Abe Kazumichi,
Wada Akira,
Oshima Sachie,
Kono Soichi,
Takahashi Atsushi,
Kanno Yukiko,
Imaizumi Hiromichi,
Hayashi Manabu,
Okai Ken,
Niwa ShinIchi,
Yabe Hirooki,
Ohira Hiromasa
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.12721
Subject(s) - verbal fluency test , discontinuation , medicine , depression (economics) , frontal lobe , gastroenterology , neuropsychology , psychiatry , cognition , economics , macroeconomics
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.