Relationship between oxidative stress, inflammatory response, psychiatric comorbidity and cognitive functions in patients with ulcerative colitis

Introduction and Aim: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon. In this study, we aim to investigate oxidative stress and inflammatory response in patients with ulcerative colitis; and to determine their effects on psychiatric comorbidity and cognitive functions. Material and Method: 38 voluntary patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and 38 voluntary healthy subjects were included in the study. Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and neuropsychological tests were administered to the subjects. Serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, Total Oksidative Stress (TOS) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) were studied in the blood samples taken from the subjects. Results: There were significant differences in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test scores between patients and controls. There was a significant correlation between IL-6, TNF-α, TAC, TOS levels and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test scores and between Beck Anxiety Inventory and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test scores. Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that cognitive functions are significantly impaired in patients with ulcerative colitis and this impairment is correlated with oxidative stress and inflammatory response. These results need to be replicated in further studies. Key Words: Ulcerative colitis, IL-6, TNF-α, TAC, TOS, OSI, depression, anxiety, cognitive functions.