Safety of Direct Acting Antiviral Agents in Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C and Thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and associated with multiple extra hepatic complications including thrombocytopenia which may lead to serious bleeding. Also it may interfere or even prevent the initiation and continuation of antiviral therapy. A new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) had been developed for treatment of chronic HCV infection.
Objective: Evaluating the safety, and efficacy of treatment with direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in treatment of chronic HCV infection and thrombocytopenia.
Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 300 patients with chronic HCV infection, they were divided into 3 groups, group I included 100 patients with HCV and platelets count ≤50,000/cmm, group II included 100 patients with HCV and platelets ˃50,000 up to150,000/cmm, and group III included 100 patients with HCV and normal platelets(˃150,000/cmm). All the patients received different regimens of DAAs therapy for 3 months.
Results :The current study included 300 patients with chronic HCV, after 12 weeks of treatment with DAAs, there was a significant improvement in platelets count, in group I, the median of platelets increased from 45 x10³ to be 46 x10³ with a range 44 - 49x10³ at the EOT with SVR reached to 98%. In group II, the median of platelets increased from 121,000 to be 132,000 with a range 113 - 152x10³ at the EOT, with SVR reached to 99%.
Conclusion: Use of direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in Patients with Chronic HCV infection and Thrombocytopenia is safe and tolerable.