Beyond genotype‐4: Direct‐acting antiviral agents in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and AimsDirect‐acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have revolutionized the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, resulting in a high sustained virologic response (SVR) rate. However, the published data from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia are limited to small patient groups and specific DAAs used for patients with genotype‐4.(GT‐4). This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of DAAs for treating HCV infection in Saudi Arabia in a real‐life setting.MethodsThis retrospective study from January 2015 to December 2019 included all HCV‐infected patients who received DAAs at a tertiary university hospital in Saudi Arabia. Baseline characteristics and laboratory data were collected from health records, including HCV RNA level, genotype, and presence of liver cirrhosis or steatosis. The primary outcome was undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks posttreatment (SVR12). Results were stratified based on different DAAs and HCV genotypes. Treatment‐related adverse events were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0.ResultsOf the 117 patients included, 43.2% had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, and the majority (90.6%) were treatment‐naïve. The mean age was 50.1 ± 15.5 years, with 57.3% females. The most common genotype was GT‐4 (44.4%), followed by GT‐1 (40.2%). Most patients (64.3%) received sofosbuvir and daclatasvir ± ribavirin, while the remaining patients received various DAAs. Overall, 98.3% of the patients achieved SVR12. The therapy was well tolerated, with fatigue and headache being the most common side effects.ConclusionsTreatment with DAAs is highly effective across different genotypes and various DDA regimens in the real world for treating HCV infection in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, contributing to improved patient outcomes and the overall goal of HCV elimination.