 
December 17, 2012
HIV and Hepatitis C Coinfection Raises Cognitive Impairment Risk for Men
A new study has found that HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection
is associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment among men,
aidsmap reports. Researchers from the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs published their findings in the online edition of the
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
The scientists
compared four groups of men: 19 monoinfected with hep C, 17 coinfected
with HIV and hep C, 14 monoinfected with HIV, and a 28-person control
group with neither infection. The investigators screened the men for
depression and evaluated various forms of cognitive function among them,
including attention, memory and fine motor speed. None of the
participants were using drugs or alcohol or had cirrhosis at the time of
the study. Coinfected participants had more depression symptoms than
those with hep C monoinfection and the control groups. About 65 percent
of coinfected participants were considered impaired, compared with 42
percent of the hep C monoinfected group, 29 percent of the monoinfected
cohort and 18 percent of those in the control.
In their paper,
the researchers write, “We were able to detect a mild, yet significant
impairment in the cognition among the coinfected group…. [T]his targeted
study indicates that coinfection in males is sufficient to push this
group over the threshold into mild impairment and [that] high viral load
in HCV monoinfection may impact cognition.”
To read the aidsmap story, click here.
To read the study abstract, click here.
Search: HIV, HCV, hep C, hepatitis C, virus, coinfection, cognitive impariment, aidsmap, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, monoinfected, attention, memore, fine motor speed, depression, impaired, cognition, viral load.
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