AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The advent of directly acting agents for the treatment of Hepatitis C infection
has forever transformed our understanding and management of viral infections. With over 95 % patients
achieving a sustained viral response at 12 weeks with some of these newly inducted agents, the prospect of eradicating the
Hepatitis C virus seems like an achievable target, which makes this one of the most important discoveries in modern medicine.
We studied the combination of Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (Genotype 3) to assess
the rates of sustained virological response at 12 weeks. We studied 67 treatment naive METHODS: patients with compensated
chronic hepatitis C infection (genotype 3). They were all started on Tab Sofosbuvir 400 mg daily and Tab Daclatasvir 60 mg
once daily for 12 weeks and followed up for a total of 24 weeks, which includes a treatment duration and observation period of
12 weeks each. The patients were monitored with HCV RNA levels at one, three and six months, with as many evaluations of liver
function and routine hemogram. Our results show that 70.5% (p<0.05) achieved a rapid vi RESULTS: rological response, 88.5%
(p<0.05) achieved an end of treatment response and, similarly, an impressive 88.05% (p<0.05) showed a sustained virological
response at the end of 12 weeks. One patient who developed a psoriasiform rash discontinued the medication and was
excluded from the analysis, as duration of treatment had not been completed. No major dose related adverse events were
reported. Sofosbuvir and Daclatasvir is an acceptable, well tolerated regimen for treatment naive, CONCLUSIONS:
compensated patients with genotype 3 infection. Based on our observations and data, we recommend this as the rst line DAA
for patient with compensated genotype 3 infection until medications with higher SVR 12 are available in the Indian market.