Depressive symptoms in chronic hepatitis C are associated with plasma apolipoprotein E deficiency

Sheridan, David, Bridge, Simon, Crossey, Mary, Felmlee, Daniel, Thomas, Howard, Neely, Robert Dermot, Taylor-Robinson, Simon and Bassendine, Margaret (2014) Depressive symptoms in chronic hepatitis C are associated with plasma apolipoprotein E deficiency. Metabolic Brain Disease, 29 (3). pp. 625-634. ISSN 0885 7490

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Abstract

Neuro-psychiatric and cognitive disorders are frequent in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus (HCV) infection which adversely impact quality of life, antiviral treatment adherence and outcome. HCV has neurotrophic properties and affects lipid metabolism, essential for cognitive function. We evaluated the relationship of lipid profiles with depression and anxiety symptoms and the effects of 12-weeks of therapy with fluvastatin and omega-3 ethyl esters (n-3 PUFA) in a randomised pilot study of CHC prior non-responders. Participants (n = 60) had fasting lipid profiles and assessment of depression and anxiety symptoms using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire at each study visit. At screening 26/60 (43 \%) had HADS-A score a parts per thousand yen8 and 13/60 (22 \%) had HADS-D scores a parts per thousand yen8. Depressed patients had significantly lower apolipoprotein-E concentrations (30 mg/l vs 39 mg/l, P = 0.029) than those without depression and a tendency toward lower total cholesterol (3.8 vs 4.4 mmol/l, P = 0.053). 3 patients discontinued lipid-modifying treatment because of worsening depression. However, there was a small but significant improvement in anxiety symptoms after 12-weeks of high-dose (2-4 g daily) n-3 PUFA. In conclusion, depression in CHC is associated with plasma apoE deficiency. We postulate that apoE deficiency disrupts blood brain barrier integrity to promote HCV infection of the CNS. High-dose n-PUFAs may alleviate anxiety in some CHC patients but the use of lipid lowering therapy must be balanced against risks of worsening depression.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	anxiety, Apolipoprotein E, cholesterol, depression, hepatitis C virus, statins
Subjects:	B900 Others in Subjects allied to Medicine C700 Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Applied Sciences
Depositing User:	Users 6424 not found.
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2014 09:09
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 18:29
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/17573

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