Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents in Patients With Hepatitis C

Abstract

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global problem with personal, social and economic impacts. Approximately 85% of patients infected with HCV cannot achieve virus clearance. Cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and death may develop in patients with chronic infection.Until recently, treatments for chronic hepatitis C were difficult to use with many side effects, low treatment responses, and relapses. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) prevent HCV replication, and thir effectiveness is over 90%. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the achievement of these treatments. Methods: Fifty patients who would receive a DAA treatment regimen, i.e. sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) +/- ribavirin (RBV) or paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir (PrOD) +/- RBV were included in the study. Laboratory values and HCV RNA results of all patients were evaluated before, at the 12th week and 24th week of treatment (at the 36th week for those who received 24 weeks of treatment), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), model for endstage liver disease (MELD) scores were calculated. Results: In 47 of 50 patients included in the study, who sustained viral response (SVR-12) could be evaluated at week 12, and HCV RNA was found negative in all patients evaluated. None of the patients had any side effects requiring discontinuation, and the most common side effect was weight gain.There was a significant decrease in AST and alanin aminotransferase (ALT) compared to their initial values.The calculated FIB-4 and APRI scores of the patients decreased significantly at the end of the treatment and in the SVR-12 period. Conclusions: DAAs used in the treatment of HCV infection provide a high rate of SVR without any significant side effects.