Assessment of Executive Functions in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus

Marwa Abd El Azeem Abd El Guaad;

Abstract


The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 170 million individuals worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the prevalence of HCV infection varies throughout the world.
Egypt had the highest number of reported infections, largely attributed to the use of contaminated parenteral antischistosomal therapy. This led to a mean prevalence of HCV antibodies in persons in Egypt of 22 %.
Chronic infection with HCV is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) defines Executive functions as the ability to plan, initiate, sequence, monitor, and inhibit complex goal-directed behaviour.
Executive dysfunction results from disruption of the neural circuits maintaining executive function may lead to apathy and subsequent functional impairment, resistance to care, and impaired decision-making capacity.
Executive dysfunction has long been recognized as a consequence of chronic liver disease. However, until recently, cognitive impairment was considered a complication of cirrhosis associated with hepatic encephalopathy.
However, there has been growing evidence that the alterations in cerebral function in patients with chronic HCV infection may appear long before the development of severe liver cirrhosis.
This study aimed at investigating the possible existence of alterations in the executive functions of HCV patients without liver cirrhosis.
It is a case control study carried out on 100 elderly patients divided into 2 groups, group A consisted of 50 patients with chronic infection with HCV (cases) and Group B:consisted of 50 healthy individuals not infected with HCV (control) recruited from geriatric department ,internal medicine department and outpatient clinics in Ain Shams university hospital. All participants were subjected to:
1- Comprehensive geriatric assessment by:
 Complete history and physical examination.
 Assessment of depression by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).


Other data

Title Assessment of Executive Functions in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus
Other Titles "تقييم الوظائف المعرفيه لمرضى الالتهاب الكبدى الفيروسى سى"
Authors Marwa Abd El Azeem Abd El Guaad
Issue Date 2014

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