Published online Dec 28, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i48.6928
Peer-review started: October 21, 2019
First decision: November 9, 2019
Revised: December 13, 2019
Accepted: December 22, 2019
Article in press: December 22, 2019
Published online: December 28, 2019
Processing time: 68 Days and 1.2 Hours
In patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, alterations in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and neuropsychological disturbances were described also in the absence of liver cirrhosis.
During the last years, HCV therapy has evolved from interferon-based to directly acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapy, with excellent tolerability and efficacy.
No data exists on the modifications of neuropsychological symptoms before and after DAAs treatment and on the relationship of these symptoms on HRQoL.
All patients included in the study underwent a neuropsychological assessment, including Zung-Self Depression-Rating-Scale, Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y1-Y2 and the Toronto-Alexithymia Scale-20 items before and after DAAs treatment. HRQoL was detected by Short-Form-36.
In this study we demonstrated for the first time that HCV eradication strongly improves depression, anxiety and alexithymia symptoms and HRQoL.
HCV eradication is important non only in patients with liver cirrhosis, but also in patients with chornic hepatitis because significantly improves health related quality of life and neuropsychological symptoms.
Further studies are needed to confirm improvements in HRQoL and neuropsychological symptoms even after years of DAAs treatment.