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  3. 8.Effect of Direct Acting Antivirals (DAA) on Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Without Cirrhosis
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8.Effect of Direct Acting Antivirals (DAA) on Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Without Cirrhosis

Shahzad Alam Khan1, Talha Rasheeq3, Muhammad Shahzad Nasir Khan4, Ali Raza5, Ahsanullah M Mirbahar2 and Muhammad Tahir3

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine frequency of thrombocytopenia and effect of direct acting antivirals (DAA) on thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis C patients without cirrhosis.

Study Design: Cross-sectional/Prospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from 18th January 2022 to 17th January 2023.

Materials and Methods: A total of 105 patients with chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis who were candidate for DAA having age range between 30 to 70 years were included while the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and CRF were excluded. After this, 5 ml blood sample was sent to the institutional pathology laboratory for measuring the load of viremia, platelet levels, renal parameters and HCV RNA by PCR. Patients having positive HCV RNA by PCR in absence of cirrhosis were given DAA (Daclatasvir with Sofosbuvir) for three months. End treatment response (ETR) was labelled by a negative PCR for HCV RNA after completion of treatment. Platelet count was also checked at this stage also. Increase in platelet count by 10% from baseline in thrombocytopenic patients was considered as significant improvement in platelet count.

Results: Age ranged from 30 to 70 years in this study, with a mean age of 47.60 ± 11.32 years. The vast majority of patients i.e. 68 (64.76%) were between 30 to 50 years of age. 60 (57.14%) of the 105 patients were men, and 45 (42.86%) were women, with a male to female ratio of 1.3:1. In our study, frequency of thrombocytopenia in chronic hepatitis C patients without cirrhosis was found in 42 (40.0%) patients. Moreover 18 patients (42.8%) had improvement in thrombocytopenia with DAA after completion of treatment.

Conclusion: This study found that there were a sizable proportion of chronic hepatitis C patients with thrombocytopenia. Significant number of patients show improvement in thrombocytopenia with successful treatment and thus may not need other costly treatment options like thrombopoetin agonists or platelet transfusion.

Key Words: Hepatitis C, Thrombocytopenia, Prevalence.

Citation of article: Khan SA, Rasheeq T, Khan MSN, Raza A, Mirbahar AM, Tahir M. Effect of Direct Acting Antivirals (DAA) on Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Without Cirrhosis. Med Forum 2023;34(5):28-32.