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Evidence for association between hepatitis C virus and Parkinson’s disease

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Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a globally prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by progressive neuronal loss in the substantia nigra and formation of Lewy bodies. These pathological characteristics are clinically translated into motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremors, and postural instability. Emerging data from epidemiological studies suggest a possible association between PD and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which affects up to 71 million individuals worldwide. Preclinical studies have shown that HCV can penetrate and replicate within the brain macrophages and microglial cells, increasing their production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can directly cause neuronal toxicity. Other studies reported that interferon, previously used to treat HCV infection, can increase the risk of PD through inhibition of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic transmission or induction of neuroinflammation. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review on the possible association between HCV infection and PD and highlight recommendations for further research and practice in this regard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Ramsis St., Abbasia, Cairo, 11591, Egypt

    Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk

  2. NovaMed Medical Research Association, Cairo, Egypt

    Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, Mostafa Wanees Ahmed El-Husseny & Ammar Ismail

  3. Medical Research Group of Egypt, Cairo, Egypt

    Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, Attia Attia, Hussien Ahmed, Ravikishore Pallanti & Ahmed Negida

  4. Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt

    Mostafa Wanees Ahmed El-Husseny

  5. Fayoum Medical Research Association, Fayoum, Egypt

    Mostafa Wanees Ahmed El-Husseny

  6. Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

    Mayar Magdy

  7. Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Ammar Ismail & Attia Attia

  8. Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, El-Sharkia, Egypt

    Hussien Ahmed & Ahmed Negida

  9. Osmania College of Medicine, Hyderabad, India

    Ravikishore Pallanti

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  1. Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk
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Abushouk, A.I., El-Husseny, M.W.A., Magdy, M. et al. Evidence for association between hepatitis C virus and Parkinson’s disease. Neurol Sci 38, 1913–1920 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3077-4

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