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Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents the second most common blood-borne illness in the world, affecting up to 2% of the world’s population. Egypt reports the highest prevalence of HCV worldwide, ranging from 6% to more than 40% with an average of 13.8%. Nowadays, combination therapy with Pegylated IFNα plus ribavirin (peg-IFNα/RBV) is the first-choice treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Cognitive impairment, or difficulty with thinking, has been well documented in persons with chronic liver disease. Clinical trials have identified several side effects of interferon-alpha (IFNα) therapy, including flu-like symptoms and depression. Some investigators have described cognitive symptoms such as impairments in memory and executive functions. Aim of the Study: Is to detect cognitive dysfunction in patients with HCV treated with peg-IFNα/RBV therapy.

Subjects and Methods: Sixty Male and female patients from Ain Shams University Hospital with age ranging from 18-60 years old diagnosed as Hepatitis C by PCR with moderate viremia and having normal thyroid profile were recruited in this study after obtaining verbal consent following explanation of study protocol 40 patients were treated with peg-IFNα/RBV (Group A) nevertheless, 10 patients dropped out for different reasons, so group A actually included 30 patients. On the other hand, the remaining 20 patients were not receiving the same treatment due to lack of funding from their health Insurance System (Group B). On the 24th week of peg-IFNα/RBV therapy, all patients underwent laboratory investigations, abdominal ultrasonography, neuropsychological assessment including …