Counseling Your Hepatitis B and C Patients About the Potential for Parkinson Disease

A study in England confirms an association with hepatitis C infection and also suggests that hepatitis B is a PD risk factor.

Studies conducted in Taiwan previously suggested hepatitis C as a risk factor for Parkinson disease (PD). Another group of researchers performed a retrospective cohort study from 1999 through 2011, using the English National Hospital episode statistics and mortality data. The inclusion criteria were broad, capturing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, autoimmune hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and HIV infection.

After adjustments for demographic and socioeconomic factors, the rate ratios for PD were 1.76 after HBV diagnosis (44 observed cases vs. 25 expected), 1.51 after HCV diagnosis (73 observed cases vs. 48.5 expected) — both significant findings. Excluding the first year after PD diagnosis (to limit…

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)