Hepatitis C virus and neurological damage

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection exhibits a wide range of extrahepatic complications, affecting various organs in the human body. Numerous HCV patients suffer neurological manifestations, ranging from cognitive impairment to peripheral neuropathy. Overexpression of the host immune response leads to the production of immune complexes, cryoglobulins, as well as autoantibodies, which is a major pathogenic mechanism responsible for nervous system dysfunction. Alternatively circulating inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and HCV replication in neurons is another factor that severely affects the nervous system. Furthermore, HCV infection causes both sensory and motor peripheral neuropathy in the mixed cryoglobulinemia as well as known as an important risk aspect for stroke. These extrahepatic manifestations are the reason behind underlying hepatic encephalopathy and chronic liver disease. The brain is an apt location for HCV replication, where the HCV virus may directly wield neurotoxicity. Other mechanisms that takes place by chronic HCV infection due the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders includes derangement of metabolic pathways of infected cells, autoimmune disorders, systemic or cerebral inflammation and alterations in neurotransmitter circuits. HCV and its pathogenic role is suggested by enhancement of psychiatric and neurological symptoms in patients attaining a sustained virologic response followed by treatment with interferon; however, further studies are required to fully assess the impact of HCV infection and its specific antiviral targets associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; Neuro disorders; Blood brain barrier; Nervous system; Inflammation

Core tip: There is high prevalence rate of neuropsychiatric ailments with respect to patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Brain inflammatory disorders, cerebrovascular disease peripheral neuropathy, psychiatric disturbs and cognitive symptoms are the complex clinical signs which occurs when infected by chronic HCV infection. HCV prompts psychiatric and neurological symptoms through numerous pathways with imprecise mechanisms, which includes neurotransmitter and metabolic pathway imbalance, immune-mediated responses and direct brain neurotoxicity inflammation. Awareness of HCV-associated neuropsychiatric disorders and its pathogenic mechanisms is vital to understand the clinical manifestations and to introduce an applicable treatment.