Altered central serotoninergic neurotransmission: a potential mechanism for profound fatigue complicating chronic hepatitis C.

Altered central neurotransmission contributes to behavioural complications of chronic liver disease, such as pruritus and hepatic encephalopathy. Another behavioural complication of chronic liver disease, including chronic hepatitis C, is profound fatigue. Evidence that altered serotoninergic neurotransmission contributes to fatigue of central origin, and relief of profound fatigue in a patient with chronic hepatitis C associated with long-term ondansetron therapy, support the hypothesis that altered central serotoninergic neurotransmission contributes to fatigue complicating chronic hepatitis C. Drugs that specifically modulate serotoninergic neurotransmission may be effective in ameliorating fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.