Effects of Achieving Sustained Virologic Response after Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents on Long-Term Liver Fibrosis in Diabetics vs. in Non-Diabetic Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
Marian-Sorin Popescu,
Dan-Mihai Firu,
Vlad Pădureanu,
Cristina Maria Mărginean,
Radu Mitruț,
Andreea Letitia Arsene,
Dragoș Nicolae Mărgăritescu,
Daniela Calina,
Anca Oana Docea,
Paul Mitruț
Affiliations
Marian-Sorin Popescu
Department of Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Dan-Mihai Firu
Department of Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Vlad Pădureanu
Department of Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Cristina Maria Mărginean
Department of Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Radu Mitruț
Department of Cardiology, University and Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
Andreea Letitia Arsene
Department of Microbiology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
Dragoș Nicolae Mărgăritescu
Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Daniela Calina
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Anca Oana Docea
Department of Toxicology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Paul Mitruț
Department of Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Because of the prevalence of HCV worldwide as well as its undiagnosed population due to a lack of screening, HCV can be considered a modern pandemic disease. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) set goals for HCV’s elimination that included a 65 percent reduction in mortality and an 80 percent reduction in newly infected cases by 2030. This study is a follow-up evaluation of 80 patients who received interferon-free treatment with direct-acting agents (DAA) for chronic HCV infection between the second half of 2017 and the end of 2018. They were assessed using a FibroMax test prior to DAA administration. Two pills/day of Ombitasvir 12.5 mg/Paritaprevir 75 mg/Ritonavir 50 mg and two pills/day of Dasabuvir 250 mg were given to the patients for 8 weeks. After treatment, all 80 patients in this study achieved an SVR (sustained virologic response), and the FibroMax test was performed three years later. Our study found that successfully treating HCV infection can play a significant role in reducing fibrosis in T2DM patients. In comparison to those of ActiTest and SteatoTest, FibroMax scores showed a significantly greater reduction in T2DM patients than in treatment-naive patients.
