PMID:
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2019 Aug 28. Epub 2019 Aug 28. PMID: 31460790
Abstract Title:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is Associated with Altered Gut Microbiota that Modulates Cognitive Performance in Veterans with Cirrhosis.
Abstract:
Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) is associated with cirrhosis in Veterans and therapeutic results are suboptimal. An altered gut-liver-brain axis exists in cirrhosis due to hepatic encephalopathy(HE), but the added impact of PTSD is unclear. Aim: Define linkages between gut microbiota and cognition in cirrhosis with/without PTSD. Cirrhotic Veterans (with/without prior HE) underwent cognitive testing (PHES, inhibitory control test,ICT and block design BDT), serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein(LBP) and stool collection for 16SrRNA microbiota composition and predicted function analysis(PiCRUST). PTSD was diagnosed using DSM-V criteria. Correlation networks between microbiota and cognition were created. Patients with/without PTSD and with/without HE were compared. 93 combat-exposed male Veterans [(58 years, MELD 11, 34% HE, 31% Combat-PTSD (42 no HE/PTSD,19 PTSD-only,22 HE-only,10 PTSD+HE)] were included. PTSD patients had similar demographics, alcohol history, MELD but worse ICT/BDT, higher antidepressant use and LBP levels. Microbial diversity was lower in PTSD (2.1±0.5 vs 2.5±0.5,p=0.03) but unaffected by alcohol/antidepressant use. PTSD(p=0.02) and MELD(p
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