Overview and early results of direct acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Aim of study: To evaluate results of direct acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C in LUHS KK Gastroenterology department. Objectives of study: 1) To characterize patients that received direct acting antiviral therapy. 2) To evaluate change in patients’ blood tests during the course of treatment. 3) To evaluate change in patients’ liver function tests during the course of treatment. 4) To find out the results of direct acting antiviral therapy. Methods of study: Retrospective study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23 software. Participants: 43 patients treated for chronic hepatitis C during 2014-2015 years were included. Results of study: Average age of patients before the treatment was 54,3 ± 9,04 years. (41-74). Median time between diagnosis and the start of DAA treatment was – 60 months (10-254). In 90,7% of the cases (n=39) CHC was caused by 1b subtype virus, 2 patients had 1a virus and 2 had 1a/1b. Most of the patients didn’t know how they contracted the virus - 59% (n=25). 17% of the patients were blood donors. 14% of the patients had blood transfusions. 7% underwent long operations or prolonged hospital stays, 3% had tattoos. 95,3% of the patients had elevated ALT and AST activity. Average activity was 90,55±38,8 IU/l and 79,29±34,24 IU/l respectively. 95% of the patients had high viral load (>600 000 IU/l). Most prominent change in liver function tests was observed after the first month of therapy. We found that direct acting antiviral therapy is effective and shows better results than therapies used before. Although 2 patients stopped the treatment because of medical and other reasons. 1 patient relapsed 9 months past the therapy. Conclusions: 43 patients were evaluated. 59% of the patients didn’t know how they contracted the disease. In 90,7% of cases CHC was caused by 1b subtype virus. 22 patients (51,2%) were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. During the course of the treatment only platelet count changed significantly. Most significant reduction in liver enzyme activity was observed after 4 weeks of therapy. DAA therapy was successful and 97,5% of patients achieved sustained viral response