Publication Abstract Display
Type: Published Manuscript
Title: Hepatitis C augments cognitive deficits associated with HIV infection and methamphetamine.
Authors: Cherner M, Letendre S, Heaton RK, Durelle J, Marquie-Beck J, Gragg B, Grant I, and the HNRC Group
Contact: Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. mcherner@ucsd.edu
Year: 2005
Publication: Neurology
Volume: 64 Issue: 8 Pages: 1343-7
Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to neurocognitive dysfunction in individuals with comorbid HIV infection or methamphetamine (METH) dependence. METHODS: Neurocognitive functioning was examined in 430 study participants who were either normal controls or had HCV infection, HIV infection, history of METH dependence, or combinations of these factors as risks for cognitive deficits. RESULTS: Rates of global and domain-specific neuropsychological (NP) impairment increased with the number of risk factors. HCV serostatus was a significant predictor of NP performance both globally and in the areas of learning, abstraction, and motor skills, with trends in speeded information processing and delayed recall. HCV serostatus did not predict scores in attention/working memory or verbal fluency. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C virus infection contributes to the neuropsychological deficits observed among HIV-infected and stimulant-dependent populations.
Funding: NIDA:DA P01 DA12065, NIDA:DA R01 DA16015
Keywords: AIDS Dementia Complex, Adult, Amphetamine-Related Disorders, Brain, California, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Encephalitis, Female, HIV Seropositivity, Hepatitis C, Humans, Leukocytes, Male, Methamphetamine, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov''t, P.H.S., Risk Factors

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