Assessment of thyroid function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection before and after treatment with oral direct-antiviral drugs

Abstract

Background There are laboratory and clinical associations between liver and thyroid diseases. Hepatitis C virus is known to be responsible for both hepatic and extrahepatic diseases. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) provide high sustained viral response rates and much reduced adverse effects and impaired health-related quality of life during treatment. Aim To assess thyroid function in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) receiving DAAs before start treatment and after achieving of SVR. Patients and methods A prospective study was conducted on 300 patients with CHC infection who were recruited for the study after obtaining written informed consent. Full history was taken, as well as routine examination and special investigations were done for all patients before the start of the remedy and by the end of treatment with DAAs. Results PCR results revealed a statistically significant difference, as SVR was evident in 98% of patients. Analysis of thyroid function assessments in the present study showed that 277 (92.3%) patients were euthyroid and 23 (7.7%) patients had thyroid disorders, comprising seven (2.3%) patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, 14 (4.66%) patients with overt hypothyroidism, and two (0.7%) patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Conclusion Thyroid function in patients with CHC infections was not damaged with treatment with DAAs for hepatitis C virus treatment. Hypothyroidism is prevalent in patients with CHC, and after treatment with DAAs, thyroid dysfunction slightly improved, especially subclinical, after achievement of SVR.

Keywords

• chronic hepatitis c infection
• direct-antiviral agents
• sustained virologic response
• thyroid dysfunction