Little is known about how hepatitis C (HCV)
infection affects cognitive function in children. The aim of
the study was to assess the impact of HCV infection on cognitive
function of children with normal liver functions and
their relationships to endogenous IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a.
IFN-a, IL-6 and TNF-a were measured and the Arabic
version of the Stanford–Binet test used to assess cognitive
functions in 35 children with HCV infection and 23 controls.
Serum levels of IL-6 and IFN-a were significantly
higher in patients compared to controls. There was a significant
effect on vocabulary, comprehension, and abstract
visual reasoning, quantitative reasoning and bead memory
tests, as well as total short-term memory and intelligence
quotient in patients compared to controls. There was a significant
positive correlation between IFN-a and IL-6. Also
there were significant negative correlations between IFN-a
and Abstract visual reasoning test, Quantitative reasoning
test, Bead memory test, Total short-term memory and Intelligence
quotient; and between IL-6 and Abstract visual reasoning
test, Quantitative reasoning test and Intelligence
quotient. There was no significant correlation between
TNF-a and any of the cognitive functions. Cytokine levels
were not related to demographic characteristics of the
patients or viral load (PCR). Children with chronic hepatitis
C infection in its early stages showed signs of cognitive
impairment, with the memory tasks being mostly affected.
There was a significant correlation between endogenous
cytokines and cognitive impairment in these children.
Further studies are needed to define the effect of successful
antiviral treatment.