A case report of psychiatric symptoms following direct-acting antiviral and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C in a patient with innate anxiety

Comparative Analysis of Neuropsychiatric Adverse Reactions Associated with Remdesivir and Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in COVID-19 Treatment: Insights from EudraVigilance Data

Remdesivir (RDV) and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMVr) are among the most widely used antivirals in the treatment of COVID-19, aiming to reduce disease severity and progression. Adverse neuropsychiatric effects, such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, and movement disorders, have emerged as significant concerns associated with these treatments. To better understand the safety profiles of RDV and NMVr, this study performs a pharmacovigilance analysis of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) from the EudraVigilance (EV) database. Objectives: This study evaluates the risk of neuropsychiatric adverse events associated with RDV and NMVr. Comparisons with other antiviral drugs, including darunavir, sofosbuvir, ribavirin, tenofovir, ritonavir, and sotrovimab, are also performed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the safety profiles. Methods: A retrospective analysis of ICSRs submitted to EV until 7 July 2024, with data extraction on 12 July 2024, was conducted. Demographic characteristics (age, sex, geographic region, and reporter type) and case severity were included in the descriptive analysis. Disproportionality analysis using reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was performed to compare adverse drug reaction (ADRs) frequencies across 27 system organ classes (SOCs), with emphasis on "Nervous system disorders" and "Psychiatric disorders. Results: The total number of ICSRs was significantly higher for NMVr (n = 8078) compared to RDV (n = 3934). Nervous system disorders accounted for 3.07% of the total RDV reports and for 17.31% of NMVr reports, while psychiatric disorders represented 0.92% of the total ADRs reported for RDV (n = 60) and 3.61% for NMVr (n = 672). On the other hand, RDV showed a significantly lower frequency of reporting headache compared to NMVr (ROR: 0.1057; 95% CI: 0.0676-0.1653). Conclusions: NMVr presents a higher risk of neuropsychiatric ADRs than RDV, underscoring the need for enhanced monitoring, particularly in patients with preexisting central nervous system (CNS) conditions. These findings contribute to optimizing antiviral safety and informing clinical decision making.

Epidemiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis associated with a superbug: A comprehensive literature review on hepatitis C virus infection

Viral hepatitis is a major public health concern. It is associated with life threatening conditions including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C virus infects around 71 million people annually, resultantly 700,000 deaths worldwide. Extrahepatic associated chronic hepatitis C virus accounts for one fourth of total healthcare load. This review included a total of 150 studies that revealed almost 19 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus and 240,000 new cases are being reported each year. This trend is continually rising in developing countries like Pakistan where intravenous drug abuse, street barbers, unsafe blood transfusions, use of unsterilized surgical instruments and recycled syringes plays a major role in virus transmission. Almost 123–180 million people are found to be hepatitis C virus infected or carrier that accounts for 2%–3% of world’s population. The general symptoms of hepatitis C virus infection include fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, anorexia, fever malaise, nausea and constipation varying on severity and chronicity of infection. More than 90% of hepatitis C virus infected patients are treated with direct-acting antiviral agents that prevent progression of liver disease, decreasing the elevation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Standardizing the healthcare techniques, minimizing the street practices, and screening for viral hepatitis on mass levels for early diagnosis and prompt treatment may help in decreasing the burden on already fragmented healthcare system. However, more advanced studies on larger populations focusing on mode of transmission and treatment protocols are warranted to understand and minimize the overall infection and death stigma among masses.

Neuropsychiatric Effects of Antiviral Drugs

The adverse events of antiviral drugs are dose-dependent and often reversible. The nervous system is often affected and to date, many studies have been published regarding the central nervous system toxicity of antiviral agents. They may cause significant neuropsychiatric complications, which range from mild symptoms such as irritability and difficulty sleeping to severe complications such as depression, psychosis, and painful peripheral neuropathy, side effects which may necessitate discontinuation of treatment. The pathogenetic mechanisms may involve molecular targets common to other centrally active drugs, including human monoamine oxidase‐A (MAO‐A), serotonin receptors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) GABA-A receptors, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors and others. Notable examples include oseltamivir which may act as MAO inhibitor and efavirenz, which has an affinity for serotonin 5-HT2 and GABA-A receptors, the serotonin transporter, the MAO enzyme, and the vesicular monoamine transporter, with subjective effects which may be similar to those of the psychedelic hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Other antiviral drugs with prominent nervous system effects include nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which are associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy after prolonged use (an effect strongly associated with older drugs which have since fallen into disfavor such as stavudine) and interferons, which may cause depression. Clinicians should be familiar with such adverse effects in order to recognise them promptly once they occur and manage them appropriately.

Effects of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents on the Mental Health of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: A Prospective Observational Study

In chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, interferon-based treatments showed toxicity, limited efficacy, and psychiatric manifestations. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents appeared safer, though it remains unclear if they may exacerbate or foster mood symptoms in drug-naïve CHC patients. We evaluated 62 CHC patients' mental status, before and 12 weeks after DAA therapy, by assessment scales and psychometric instruments. We subdivided patients into two groups, CHC patients with (Group A) or without (Group B) a current and/or past psychiatric history. After DAA treatment, Group A patients showed low anxiety and improved depression, no variation in self-report distress, but worse general health perceptions. No significant difference emerged from coping strategies. Depression and anxiety improved in Group B, and no change emerged from total self-reported distress, except for somatization. Moreover, Group B increased problem-focused strategies for suppression of competing activities, and decreased strategies of instrumental social support. Contrarily, Group B reduced significantly emotion-focused strategies, such as acceptance and mental disengagement, and improved vitality, physical and social role functioning. DAA therapy is safe and free of hepatological and psychiatric side effects in CHC patients, regardless of current and/or past psychiatric history. In particular, patients without a psychiatric history also remarkably improved their quality of life.