Background & Aims:
This study aimed to assess the changes in platelet counts of patients with liver cirrhosis
due to chronic HCV, who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) after taking direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in a
large cohort study in Egypt.
Methods:
This multicenter observational retrospective study was carried out on 2500 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients who achieved (SVR) after treatment with direct acting antiviral drugs (DAA). HCV infection was confirmed
by positive PCR for HCV RNA infection. SVR was defined as a negative PCR test for HCV-RNA 12 weeks after completion of DAA therapy. Platelets count was measured before therapy, during therapy, at the end of treatment, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatment.
Results:
There were 2186 patients enrolled in the study; 1866 (85.4%) were treatment naïve. There were 1006 (46%) males
and 1180 (54%) females. Mean age was 50.82± 11.66 years, 2142 (98 %.0) patients achieved SVR, 2118 (96.9%) patients
had Child -Pugh class A cirrhosis, and 68 (3.1%) had Child -Pugh class B liver cirrhosis. A significant increase of the platelets count was detected at the end of treatment in comparison to the pretreatment levels (P<0.001), and after achieving SVR
(P <0.001) when compared to the pretreatment values.
Conclusion:
Improvement of platelets count occurs after HCV therapy with DAAS in patients with liver cirrhosis. These results suggested that HCV eradication may have a role in improvement of platelet count.
The effects of sustained virological response to direct-acting anti-viral therapy on the risk of extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C infection
