Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Hep C can infect, damage brain tissues:

EDMONTON — A virus best known for the damage it does to the liver can also damage brain cells, University of Alberta researchers report in a new study.

The research into the impact of hepatitis C on the brain is significant, they say, because it marks the first time scientists have been able to show that the virus can infect the brain.

"It has been a question for a long time," said Pornpun Vivithanaporn, a post-doctoral fellow in the U of A's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and first author of the hepatitis C study, which was published last week in the Public Library of Science One Journal.

"It proves the virus has implications on neurological disease," she said Tuesday.

Hepatitis C infects about 170 million people globally and about 300,000 in Canada. It targets the liver, causing inflammation and cirrhosis.

Researchers already knew that severe liver disease can affect a person's brain, but more recent research suggested that hepatitis C patients without serious liver problems also could suffer from brain-related issues such as memory loss, trouble concentrating, apathy and depression.

The new study allowed a team of researchers to show precisely how the hepatitis C virus can infect brain cells on its own.

"That had never been shown before," said lead researcher Dr. Christopher Power, a neurologist who works in the U of A's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. "It gets in there, it infects and it replicates. For a virologist, that's a really core observation. You can see infection of the cells and you can see replication."

To show how the hepatitis C virus infects brain cells, Power pointed to a computer screen in his U of A lab on Tuesday.

On one side of the screen, pictures of two healthy brain cells appeared in red. On the other side, those same cells appeared peppered with green dots. And in this picture, green is bad since it represents a buildup of viral proteins that eventually damage and kill the cell. In a way, Power explained, the virus can cause brain cells to drown in their own garbage.

The discovery is important, Power said for a couple of reasons.

First, he said, there are immediate clinical implications. "It tells us we need to be vigilant for neurological problems for people who have hepatitis C," he said.

That would mean taking such steps as ensuring patients have assess to a neurologist or psychologist on their team of physicians as well as a liver specialist.

"The second issue is it underscores the importance (of) developing new treatment for hepatitis C so we can prevent infection of the brain," said Power, whose research is funded by Alberta Innovates — Health Solutions and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

There is now no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. Researchers have uncovered some treatments that work for a portion of patients infected with hepatitis C, but those also can have serious side effects for some people.

Michael Harmsworth, a hepatitis C sufferer who counts Power among his five doctors, said Tuesday he was extremely interested to learn about the research team's discovery. He said he hadn't realized that hepatitis C had the potential to affect the brain until Power showed him computer images of infected tissue samples.

Harmsworth, who was diagnosed about 13 years ago, said it all points toward progress.

"It's making me think, 'Hey, I may still have my time left here,'" Harmsworth said. "My little girl is nine years old and I want to be here when she turns 16 and goes to the prom."

http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/infect+damage+brain+tissues+Report/3628505/story.html
Best Answer
92903 tn?1309904711
"That would mean taking such steps as ensuring patients have assess to a neurologist or psychologist on their team of physicians as well as a liver specialist. "

Giving them a simple spelling test might shake out the problems.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now if they can just tie hemmorhoids, ED and flatulence to the hep, all my troubles will be explained.
30 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Also please note additional thread, HCV, Brain Damage.....
  Now that science is beginning to clarify some of the reasons for our cognitive and behavioral problems, maybe we will see a more multi-functional approach to the infection.  ie:  This virus is not just a "liver" virus, but it is a virus that directly infects, and probably directly impacts multiple organs and systems in humans.  We now have proof that the brain is actually infected in many people, and I will guess that sometime soon they will also demonstrate the virus acting on connective tissues  (joint problems), salivary tissues and glands  (all the eye and dental issues, as well as SS complaints), skin, lungs, kidneys...etc.  How about the cardio-vascular system...do we know yet why a much higher percentage of HCV+ individuals seem to suffer stroke and cerebral hemmorhage?....You have to also wonder if the virus, which runs rampant in the blood stream as we know so well, also damages the walls of the arteries and veins, or even heart tissues....and so on and so on....

I have always rankled at the term "a liver virus" when doctors refer to HCV.  I have ALWAYS believed that the virus is a total system virus, that just happens to have a slightly larger propensity for the liver than maybe some other organs....maybe.
Many people with active HCV, and minimal liver damage have suffered from a wide range of "extra-hepatic" effects...usually with little explanation from the medical community as to "why".  Now maybe we are finding that the "why" consists of HCV directly infecting and damaging various other organs and cells in the body.  I have ALWAYS believed this, it only makes sense, especially if you have actually experienced these "extra-hepatic" symptoms over many years.....

Let's also hope that our SVR status also includes a termination of infection in all these other cells and organs as well....not just in the bloodstream!  My biggest concern is how to insure that the brain infection is cleared on SVR, and maybe this is where brain scans and other lab testing will help us understand the long term outcome better as relates to our brains.  There is still tons to be sorted out by researchers regarding just what is going on after SVR....which after-effects are due to all the interferon, which are from residual effects or changes from having had the virus for so many years, and finally which after-effects are possibly dure to still active HCV infection in isolated organs (the brain, lymph nodes, connective tissue, etc.).   Possibly some forms of the infection, in certain cells, might not be capable of re-triggering the 'visible' HCV serum infection that we all originally treat.  Could there be 'residual' HCV infection that continues on, in isolation, causing symptoms, and damage???  Only time, and good research, will tell.

  
Helpful - 0
1225178 tn?1318980604
Great article!!!

"SUMMARY
In summary, extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C are varied and involve a number of organ systems. Physicians and patients should be aware of these signs and symptoms, and testing for HCV should be done in patients who manifest these. This may lead to early diagnosis and successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection. "

We should probably all copy this and take it to our doctors because from what I've read on here, many of them don't have a clue about this stuff.

Diane
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
RHEUMATOLOGIC and AUTOIMMUNE MANIFESTATIONS
Myalgia (muscle pains), fatigue and arthralgias (joint pains) are common manifestations of HCV infection. HCV-related arthritis commonly presents as symmetrical inflammatory arthritis involving small joints. The joints involved in HCV-related arthritis are similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This sometimes makes it difficult to differentiate true RA from HCV patients with positive rheumatoid factor but without RA. HCV-related arthritis is usually non-deforming and there are no bony erosions in the joints. A marker called anti-keratin antibodies has been studied to differentiate true RA from HCV related arthritis. In a recent study, 71 patients who were rheumatoid factor positive were tested for anti-keratin antibodies. Anti-keratin antibodies were detected in 20/33 (60.6%) patients with true RA and only 2/25 (8%) patients with HCV-related arthritis (10). Patients with HCV-related arthritis seldom respond to anti-inflammatory medications, and although there are no controlled trials to address this issue, it has been recommended to treat these patients with combination antiviral therapy of interferon and ribavirin (11).

Sjogren’s syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth has been found in some studies to be more common in HCV infected patients. They differ from primary SS in that they do not have lung and kidney involvment. Thus it is recommended to test for HCV infection in patients with SS or primary SS. A study by El-Serag of 34,000 veterans failed to show a significant association between HCV infection and diabetes, SS, or autoimmune thyroid disease (9).

Interferon therapy of HCV infection may also trigger the development of autoimmune diseases, the most frequent of which is autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). This may lead transiently to hyperthyroidism, but eventually to hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and to the need for life-long thyroid replacement therapy (Bonkovsky & Mehta).

LYMPHOMA
B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) has been linked to HCV infection. This is probably due to the long-standing stimulation of B cells caused by chronic HCV infection, although other factors must be important because most patients with CHC do not develop such lymphomas. A high prevalence of HCV was found in patients with immunocytomas, a low-grade type of lymphoma, which was associated with cryoglobulinemia. Another study linked HCV infection and splenic B-cell lymphomas. Seven of nine patients with splenic lymphoma were treated with interferon monotherapy. Two patients who had detectable HCV RNA after treatment received combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin. All nine patients had sustained virological responses and had remission of their lymphoma, as well. On the other hand, six control patients with splenic lymphoma without HCV infection did not respond to interferon treatment at all (12). It is therefore reasonable to screen for HCV infection in patients with splenic lymphoma as well as other low grade NHL.

EYE MANIFESTATIONS
HCV infection has been associated with several eye disorders. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes) is part of SS. Mooren’s ulcer is a rapidly progressive, painful ulceration of the cornea. The diagnosis is made by exclusion of other causes of corneal ulcer. A few cases of Mooren’s ulcer and HCV infection have been reported. In at least two of these patients, the ulcers did not respond to steroid and cyclosporine drops but did respond to interferon alfa-2b (13). Damage to the retina of the eye (retinopathy, which includes cotton-wool spot formation, hemorrhages and arteriolar occlusion) is a frequent complication of interferon therapy. Fortunately, the retinopathy is usually reversible once treatment is stopped and sometimes even improves despite continuation of therapy. However, patients receiving interferon who experience visual symptoms should hold treatment and undergo careful eye examinations by eye specialists.

SUMMARY
In summary, extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C are varied and involve a number of organ systems. Physicians and patients should be aware of these signs and symptoms, and testing for HCV should be done in patients who manifest these. This may lead to early diagnosis and successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Extrahepatic.pdf

Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic Hepatitis C

Roderick Remoroza, MD, and Herbert Bonkovsky, MD

(To see the figures and illustrations in this article, please download the pdf version.)

Although most patients with chronic hepatitis C are asymptomatic, an appreciable number will experience symptoms that are due to the liver disease and/or extrahepatic manifestations of HCV infection. Recognition of these symptoms will lead to early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C. Fatigue is the most common symptom of chronic hepatitis C and is most often mild. Intermittent right upper quadrant pain, anorexia and nausea occur less commonly.

Chronic hepatitis C infection predisposes patients to the development of diseases involving other organ systems including the kidneys, the skin, eyes, joints, immune system, and the nervous system. There are many extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C: some are relatively common (e.g., cryoglobulinemia), whereas others are infrequent and their association with hepatitis C has not been clearly defined. Only the common extrahepatic manifestations with clear association with hepatitis C will be discussed in this review.

CRYOGLOBULINEMIA
Cryoglobulins are antibody complexes that precipitate as serum is cooled and that dissolve on rewarming (1). These complexes contain hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles and can precipitate in the walls of small and medium sized vessels. There are three types (I, II, III) of cryoglobulinemia .Type II or “mixed” cryoglobulinemia (MC) is the one most commonly associated with chronic hepatitis C infection. This type is called “mixed” because the antibodies that are found are of two kinds. One antibody is a polyclonal (i.e., from more than one group of cells) antibody (IgG), and the other antibody is a monoclonal (IgM) directed against the IgG. The frequency with which cryoglobulins are detectable in serum of patients with CHC depends on how carefully samples are handled and upon the methods used for detection of cryoglobulins. Because these proteins precipitate from serum as it is cooled, the blood must be kept at body temperature after it has been obtained until it has clotted and the serum has been drawn off. Then the serum is tested for the abnormal proteins. If this precaution is not observed, the test may be spuriously negative.

The skin, kidney, nerves and joints can be affected by cryoglobulins. Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a skin lesion that appears as palpable purpura (hemorrhages in the skin that result in the appearance of purplish spots or patches) that usually affects the lower extremities over the shins (Fig 1). These lesions are caused by plugging of the dermal capillaries (very small blood vessels in the skin). Successful treatment of the hepatitis C infection with interferon (+ ribavirin) usually results in resolution of the skin lesions.

Cryoglobulins also affect the nervous system in some HCV infected patients. The most frequent symptoms and signs are those of chronic sensory polyneuropathy, although acute or subacute encephalopathy has been reported as well (2,3). “Restless leg syndrome” and Guillain-Barré syndrome have also been reported (4). The mechanism of nerve involvement is thought to be MC-well-established related vasculitis of the small blood vessels that supply the nerves. There is no well-established treatment. Treatment with interferon, corticosteroids, or cyclophosphamide (cytoxan) has not shown any consistent results although some patients appear to respond to one or a combination of these drugs (5).

KIDNEY MANIFESTATIONS
The kidneys are also affected in some patients with hepatitis C. The most common kidney disease related to hepatitis C infection is membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) (6). The prevalence of MPGN varies with geographical location. It is more common in Japan and is less frequently seen in France. Patients with MPGN usually complain of weakness, edema and have systemic arterial hypertension. Urine of such patients contains a lot of protein (>3.5 g/day), a condition called nephritic syndrome. Other abnormalities include low serum albumin (due to losses in the urine), decreased complement levels, and the presence of rheumatoid factor and cryoglobulins. MPGN may sometimes occur in the absence of cryoglobulinemia. Another kidney disease called membranous nephropathy (MN) is less common in HCV infected patients and is not associated with cryoglobulinemia or rheumatoid factor but is associated with heavy proteinuria (7). The mechanism of the disease is still unclear, but some studies suggest that it is caused by circulating complexes of antibodies and HCV particles directly causing damage to the kidneys as they are deposited in the glomerulus and tubules of the kidneys. Some authors recommend treatment of patients with HCV-related kidney disease even in the absence of active liver disease. The current treatment of choice for HCV infection is interferon and ribavirin. However, in patients with severe renal failure, only interferon monotherapy is recommended because ribavirin cannot be removed by dialysis. Thus, it accumulates and causes severe breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) and anemia.

SKIN LESIONS
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common form of the porphyrias, a group of diseases characterized by defects in one or more of the enzymes involved in the production of heme. This results in the overproduction of porphyrins or its precursors. Patients with PCT often present with blisters and vesicles on the dorsal aspects of the hands, forearms, back of the neck and face. These lesions develop in areas that are exposed to the sun and that sustain minor trauma. Increased facial hair and pigmentation changes are also noted. In some patients, as the injury becomes chronic, scarring, alopecia and thickening of the skin may occur. The skin lesions may be further complicated by deposition of calcium and formation of non-healing ulcers. See Figure 2. Patients with PCT who are of northern European origin were also found to have increased prevalence of HFE gene mutation, the gene found to be responsible in most cases of hereditary hemochromatosis. In addition to iron, heavy alcohol use and use of estrogens are also major risk factors for the development of PCT. The treatment of PCT involves dietary restriction of foods rich in iron, and avoidance of alcohol and estrogen use. Phlebotomy to remove iron is the first treatment for most patients with PCT. In patients with PCT, we recommend iron depletion by phlebotomy before initiating antiviral therapy with interferon and ribavirin. Antimalarial drugs like chloroquine have been used in the treatment of PCT as well (8).

In a large case–control study of 34,204 veterans, lichen planus, vitiligo and PCT are the skin disorders that have been found to have significant association with HCV infection (9). Lichen planus is a disease of the skin and mucous membranes that appears as violaceous, scaling papules usually located on the limbs and white reticular lesions on the mucous membranes (See Fig 3). It is suggested that this is an autoimmune response to an antigen shared by HCV particles and the basal cell layer of the skin. Vitiligo is an acquired loss of pigmentation of the skin. The loss of pigmentation is usually found around body orifices like the mouth, eyes and nose and on the extensor surfaces of the elbows and knees as well as the wrists. Interferon has not been found to be uniformly effective in the treatment of lichen planus.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
There are obviously many things that hep c does to our bodies that is not yet understood, or the relationship is not understood. There is a long list of extra hepatic manifestations of hcv. We always hear that vl has no effect on liver damage, but it is not know how vl and how long someone has been infected effect the related conditions and other organs.

Here is a list of some of those extra hepatic manifestations. Most people do not get these types of issues unless they have been chronic for a long time.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Extrahepatic.pdf
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
DD - great to see you! Much wisdom in what you write, Regardless of the (very uncertain) science, negotiating a life through whatever effects are active is the main objective.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
And i am not- even depressed anymore,i manage to dont see t-he ignorence of t-he docto-rs, who maby t-hing i deserve what i am suffering.There are st-ill many- things t-o be discovered about how HCV affects us .But i dont have any- hope it- will be soon.Here in t-he forum i found anot-her who had my simpt-oms (depresion,low libido) but in his last- post-s  before 3 y-ears he was talking about- suicide.I really- hope i learn to- live wit-h my- disabiliti-es and never t-o th-ong or t-ry- suicide , like i did a y-ear ago,
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am not surprised t-hat- t-he virus kills brain cells.I became impotent and depressed aft-er just- 1 year wit-h HCV.I doubt the doct-ors can find whats the matter with me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This thread also is pertinent to the recent thread on HCV Brain Damage, and would provide additional information to anyone curious about other organs that may be directly infected by the virus.  Food for thought!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I totally believe that both the HCV and the 10 TX's have had a large impact on my brain.  One of the reasons why I qualified for SSDI was due to the fact that I couldn't pass that psychologic/neurologic tests that their own psychiatrist did on me when he was evaluating me.  In the state of Florida is did not qualify for SSDI based on my Hep C because I had not yet developed cirrhosis.  It was based on the effect that all of this had on my functioning and not the Hep C.  Anyhow, I don't expect many of you will understand why it is that I can't work.  I did try to go back to work once, when I was in the waiting stage of trying to get the disability and it was a disaster.  I totally could not absorb the instructions/directions that they were giving me when they were trying to train me and the very next day I had a melt down.  This, I might add, was when I was NOT on treatment.  Now, whether or not that would improve with SVR, I would be very interested to know.  Because, believe it or not, I truly want to be cleared of this and be back to being a working person and a productive member of society.  Take Care ya'll.

Susan400
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I do believe that some years ago these were the same "theories and observations" that I raised on multiple occassions.  Although my ideas seemed to be roundly rejected back then, they may just be revisited these days.  And do we have any idea at all what effect the interferon has on the "brain" infection??  Could there also be other organs or cells that the virus also infects, and may remain within long term???  Questions that I no longer try to get answers to....the answers will come along on their own.  Since our blood is now considered "virus free"  (for the SVR's), does that mean that there is absolutely no virus acting on any systems or organs in our body?  We don't have those answers yet....but we will in time....  Still SVR after 7 years....and working at getting back to "normal"....  my brain often doesn't want to cooperate......and maybe there is a reason....  Anyway, I am going to make the best of whatever this SVR consists of....Hello to all my old friends and (not so friends) on the forum.  I hope you are all doing well!

DoubleDose
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Interesting article.  Yet another factor for the implications of treating sooner than later, at least to me.

This part makes me think:

""The second issue is it underscores the importance (of) developing new treatment for hepatitis C so we can prevent infection of the brain," said Power, whose research is funded by Alberta Innovates — Health Solutions and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research."

What happens once infection of the brain has occurred?  Does eradicating the virus with SVR also cure the infection to the brain?  Can they measure this?  Makes me wonder.
Helpful - 0
691935 tn?1421027090
no green dots for Goof, I totally missed the misspelling - had to read it twice!  Well, at least now I can worry less about AD and blame the HCV.
Helpful - 0
238010 tn?1420406272
I was going to make a comment...dammit, it's on the tip of my tongue...

smaug
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"Now if they can just tie hemmorhoids, ED and flatulence to the hep, all my troubles will be explained. "

No, unfortunately, those things have already been tied to .... advancing age. Sorry brah.
Helpful - 0
1420486 tn?1384793153
Wow all the more reason to attempt to clear virus, sooner rather than later
Helpful - 0
475300 tn?1312423126
I googled HVC and brain impairment and found a ton of studies going as far back as 2002.  Maybe the "brain fog" has an actual reason for happening.

I didn't find much after SVR tho
Helpful - 0
475300 tn?1312423126
Thank You for the study.  I hope they look into it further, I think it will explain a whole lot of post TX issues.  I think there is going to be more and more issues exposed as time goes on.

Denise
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would venture to say that there is not a single cell in the body that Hep C does not infect.

Like it or not, there's nothing that can be done about "occult" infections. As long as the damage stops, that's fine with me. For some of us, the choices that brought us here were made long, long ago in a far away land. I for one ain't gonna worry my little gray head over it.
Helpful - 0
419309 tn?1326503291
Hmm.  Studying hcv is looking more and more like studying the occult in more ways than one.
Helpful - 0
476246 tn?1418870914
We've known that the virus passes the blood brain barrier, so this does in no way surprise me.

... and then you do tx... then the meds go chasing after the virus (passing the blood brain barrier too???) and kill some brain cells on their path. It's called collateral damage.

Go figure....

Over 1 1/2 years passed tx, I'm still not back to normal. Gotta find a way to regenerate some of that gray matter.
Helpful - 0
1431734 tn?1421011671
wow, sure am glad i treated finally as i didnt have any gray matter to spare...or was it green? yikes drowning in garbage, whew!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hope it dose not affect the capacity to laugh at all this! what an ugly thing.

Sonia
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.