Neurocognitive Changes in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Receiving Combination Therapy of Interferon and Ribavirin: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Approximately 3% of the world’s total population is affected by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The treatment for HCV differs widely across countries, and one of the therapies used is the combination of interferon (INF) and ribavirin (RBV). Few studies have shown that this combination increases the rate of sustained virological response in HCV patients, resulting in beneficial effects on cognition, while other studies report that it leads to cognitive decline. Thus, this systematic review aims to assess the effects of INF+RBV therapy on neurocognitive changes in HCV patients. Methods: Studies reporting the effect of INF+RBV on neurocognitive changes were searched using Scopus, PubMed, Academia, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane. The studies were retrieved till August 23, 2021. The quality assessment of the included studies was done using Cochrane’s bias assessment tool. Results: A total of 6380 articles were found in the initial search. After removing the duplicates, 619 articles were screened on the basis of titles. Further, after the screening, 54 articles were screened on the basis of abstract, and finally, 16 articles were included in this study. Nine studies reported a decline in cognitive function post-INF+RBV therapy, while 7 articles reported improvement in cognitive functions. Conclusion: In conclusion, the combination therapy of INF and RBV may result in cognitive decline in HCV patients.