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Changes in serum tryptophan during antiviral therapy with recombinant α-interferon in chronic hepatitis C
- Source :
- International Congress Series. 1304:362-366
- Publication Year :
- 2007
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2007.
-
Abstract
- The most effective treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) available to date is represented by interferon-α (IFN-α), alone or in combination with ribavirin. However, the therapy presents adverse effects, including depressive symptoms. As IFN-α can cause an alteration of the tryptophan metabolism and a consequent reduced synthesis of serotonin, we have designed a study aimed to investigate the effect of IFN-α therapy on the serum levels of tryptophan and on the development of depression in patients affected by the hepatitis C virus. Nine patients with HCV were enrolled while treated with IFN-α2a (3 MU thrice/week) plus ribavirin (15 mg/kg/day) for six months. All patients were evaluated by a hepatologist and received two self-administered scales [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. Blood samples were collected before treatment and at one month and six months of therapy. Tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin were analysed by HPLC with a spectrofluorometric detector. In all cases, a significant decrease of serum tryptophan concentrations from baseline (17.60 ± 1.08 mg/ml) to one month (13.94 ± 1.18 mg/ml) and six months (12.68 ± 0.64 mg/ml) with an increase of symptoms of depression was obtained, whereas 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin levels did not show any variation during the therapy from baseline values. The preliminary results suggest that IFN-α plays a role in serum tryptophan reduction and the development of depressive symptoms.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
business.industry
Ribavirin
Hepatitis C virus
Beck Depression Inventory
General Medicine
Hepatitis C
medicine.disease
medicine.disease_cause
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Gastroenterology
chemistry.chemical_compound
chemistry
Internal medicine
Immunology
Medicine
Serotonin
business
Adverse effect
Depression (differential diagnoses)
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 05315131
- Volume :
- 1304
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Congress Series
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....e432e9cbdf56705859dc9be00c940598