The neuropsychiatric profiles of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are similar to those of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) but differ from those of hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients, suggesting an autoimmune response as a possible cause for these differences. This according to a recent study that sought to prove that HCV patients feature similar to those with autoimmune liver disease but contrary to HBV patients regarding neuropsychiatric symptoms. Among the details:

• 132 non-cirrhotic patients (HCV: 46, HBV: 22, AIH: 27, PBC: 29, AIH/PBC: 8) completed questionnaires and 88 underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. Patient groups were compared among each other and to 33 healthy controls.
• Fatigue, anxiety and depression scores were significantly increased, and the SF-36 mental score significantly decreased in all patient groups vs controls.
• Fatigue was more pronounced in HCV than in HBV patients.
• HCV, AIH, and PBC but not HBV patients did significantly worse than controls in word learning.
• HCV patients did also worse vs controls and HBV patients concerning alertness and working memory.