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Danish Zia¹, Syed Saif Ur Rehman¹, Safdar Hussain¹, Abida Mateen¹, Muhammad Irshad Khan² and Muhammad Wajad Munir¹

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the end treatment response of directly acting antivirals (DAAs) in chronic hepatitis C patients with reduced adverse effects.

Study Design: Prospective study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine of Al-Nafees Medical College and Hospital, Islamabad from 26th March 2019 to 26th September 2019.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted after approval from hospital ethical committee. The chronic hepatitis C patients with detectable viral load on PCR with genotype 3 between ages 30-60 years were included in the study after taking informed written consent. Demographic data like age, gender and co-morbid were taken. Baseline investigations and USG abdomen were done to exclude the patients having pregnancy, renal failure, cirrhosis, portal hypertension and suspected hepatocellular carcinoma. The PCR for HCV RNA was done at 12 weeks to look for end treatment response of directly acting antivirals. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS 23 version.

Results: In study total 60 patients were enrolled and divided in two groups of 30 each. In group A Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir was given to patients and in group B Sofosbuvir with Velpatasvir was given to patients. The mean age of the patients in group A was 43.23±8.87 year and in group B was 43.53±10.10 year. Primary outcome of the study was end treatment response at 12 weeks in group A (Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir) and In group B (Sofosbuvir with Velpatasvir) 90.0% and 93.3% with undetectable PCR respectively. Secondary outcome was of adverse effects that in group A 16.7% patients had nausea, 13.3% patients had vomiting, 20.0% patients had fatigue, 16.7% patients had allergic reactions, 16.7% patients had decreased appetite, 6.7% patients had oral ulcer, 23.3% patients had headache, 3.3% patient had diarrhea and 10.0% patient had fever. In group B 10.0% patients had nausea, 6.7% patients had vomiting, 16.7% patients had fatigue, 10.0% patients had allergic reaction, 13.3% patients had decreased appetite, 6.7% patients had oral ulcers, 10.0% patients had headache, 6.7% patients had diarrhea and 6.7% patients had fever. In group A and B no patients had pancytopenia and jaundice.

Conclusion: Newer Directly acting oral antivirals are better and safe treatment option for chronic Hepatitis C. It is found that combination of Velpatasvir plus Sofosbuvir though expensive has a marginal edge over Sofosbuvir plus Daclatasvir combination.

Key Words: Directly acting oral antivirals, sustained viral response, chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis of liver, hepatocellular carcinoma

Citation of article: Zia D, Saif Ur Rehman S, Hussain S, Mateen A, Khan MI, Munir MW. End Treatment Response of Chronic Hepatitis C with Directly Acting Oral Antivirals at 12 Weeks. Med Forum 2023;34(1): 52-55.