Machado MO, Oriolo G, Bortolato B, Köhler CA, Maes M, Solmi M, Grande I, Martín-Santos R, Vieta E, Carvalho AF. Biological mechanisms of depression following treatment with interferon for chronic hepatitis C: A critical systematic review.
J Affect Disord 2017;
209:235-45. [PMID:
27936453 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2016.11.039]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
A significant subset of patients infected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) develops a major depressive episode (MDE) during Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) based immunotherapy. We performed a systematic review of studies which examined biological mechanisms contributing to the onset of a MDE during IFN-α-based immunotherapy for HCV.
METHODS
Major electronic databases were searched from inception up until 15th February 2016 for peer-reviewed prospective studies that had enrolled HCV infected patients who received IFN-α treatment. A diagnosis of MDE had to be established by means of a standardized diagnostic interview at baseline and endpoint.
RESULTS
Eight unique references met inclusion criteria. A total of 826 participants with HCV (37.3% females, mean age 46.7 years) were included in this systematic review. The overall MDE incidence rate was 34.8%, with follow-up ranging between 4 and 48 weeks. The methodological quality varied across selected studies. It was observed that Interleukin-6, salivary cortisol, arachidonic acid / eicosapentaenoicacid plus docosahexaenoic acid ratio, and genetic polymorphisms may present variations which are linked to a predisposition to INF-α-induced depression.
LIMITATIONS
A meta-analysis could not be performed due to the diverse biological mechanisms investigated and the lack of replicated evidence.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review indicates that several potential mechanisms may be implicated in the onset of a MDE following IFN-α-based immunotherapy for chronic HCV. However, replicated evidence is lacking and therefore the mechanisms involved in IFN-α-induced depression in humans remain unclear.
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