IFN-induced depression in HCV patients and endogenous depression is associated with an enhanced sensitivity to IFN-alpha

Aims: Combination therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha (IFNα) and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C can induce depressive side effects in up to one third of patients. It was unclear if IFN-induced depression and endogenous depression have common causes. In this study we could identify genes with an enhanced sensitivity to IFNα in HCV patients with IFN-induced depression as well as in patients suffering from endogenous depression. Patients and methods: A total of 50 Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with standard combination therapy consisting of pegylated IFN-α2a (Pegasys, 180µg once we…