Correlation between platelet count and outcome of chronic HCV patients treated with direct-acting antivirals

Abstract

Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The direct acting anti-virus (DAAs) are available, with a reported 95% sustained virological response after treatment for 12 weeks (12w-SVR). Objectives: The current study aimed to assess the correlation between platelet count and the DAAs therapy outcome in chronic HCV (CHC) patients. Patients and methods: three hundred CHC patients, Child–Pugh grade A, both naïve and treatment experienced patients were enrolled in this study, from outpatient Clinic, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Tropical medicine, Qena university hospital, Qena, Egypt, treated with DAAs for 12 weeks, either dual or triple therapy, according to criteria recommended by the national committee for chronic viral hepatitis (NCCVH). Patients categorized into three groups: (1) Group I (non-thrombocytopenic group): included 100 CHC patients with platelet count ≥ 150 (109/L); (2) Group II (mild thrombocytopenic group): included 100 CHC patients with platelet count 100-149 (109/L); (3) Group III (moderate thrombocytopenia): included 100 CHC patients with platelet count 50–99 (109/L). Results: The Overall CHC patient's mean age were (48.2 ± 11), 226 (75.33%) were males and 74 (24.67%) were females. 97.6% (293/300)of CHC patients attainedSVR; 97 % in (Group I), and 98 % in both (Group II), and (Group III), after 12 weeks DAAs therapy with no significant difference between groups. Conclusion: both DAAs treatment modalities were efficient in the eradication of HCV; however, thrombocytopenia in CHC patients does not affect the DAAs therapy outcome.

Keywords

• direct-acting anti-virus; platelets; svr; hcv