Safety and Efficacy of Directly Acting Antiviral Drugs in Treatment of Chronic HCV Egyptian Patients

Abstract

Emergence of direct antiviral agents (DAAs), and campaign done by the National Committee for Control of Viral Hepatitis (NCCVH), reduced chronic hepatitis C (CHC) prevalence in Egypt. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of used DAAs in affiliated centers from October 2017 to December 2019. Patients were either started treatment or during follow-up for 1 year after therapy (EOT). They were divided according to treatment into GI: SOF/DAC for 12 weeks, GII: SOF/DAC/ RBV for 12 weeks, GIII: SOF/SIM for 12 weeks, GIV: SOF/RBV for 24 weeks and GV: SOF/ DAC/RBV for 24 weeks. DAAs were effective in all groups, and adverse effects occurred in 54 patients (38.6%).The commonest complications were ascites (n=18) followed by jaundice (n=17) and HCC (n=14). Patients (97.1%) in GIV complained of adverse effects compared to others with a significant difference (p<0.001). Hematemesis occurred in one patient in GIV. There was also a significantly higher proportion of ascites (38.2%) in GIV compared to others (P < 0.01), without significant differences between groups regarding HCC and renal impairment (RI) (P= 0.316 & 0.758 respectively). Five treatment experienced patients suffered from side effects. Renal impairment was (12.5%) among interferon (IFN) experienced and SOF/DAC experienced patients and who were treated among GIV and GV, hepatic encephalopathy was (12.5%) in IFN experienced and SOF/RBV experienced patients among GIV or GV, but ascites (6.3%) and jaundice (6.3%) were among GIV. None complained of hematemesis or HCC.