Abstract
Background
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a major global health challenge; it is estimated that more than 80 million people are chronically infected worldwide. Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV in the world (predominantly genotype 4) secondary to the previous schistosomiasis eradication campaigns with very high incidence rates among elderly, rural areas and in lower social classes.
However, several oral anti-HCV drugs (direct acting antivirals; DAAs) have been developed over the last several years. Now, HCV can be eliminated from the infected host within 12 wk of DAA combination therapy without noticeable side effects
Aims: to evaluate the Effect of presence of portal hypertension on the results of treatment of chronic HCV infected naive patient with direct acting antivirals
Patients and Methods
200 subjects were divided into 2 groups: group I: including 100 cirrhotic patients with HCV infection and portal hypertension, group II: including 100 cirrhotic patients with HCV infection without portal hypertension.
Diagnosis of portal hypertension was confirmed by presence of esophageal varices in endoscopy.
Both group received combination of IFN-free DAAs.
Results
CK-18 was significantly elevated in patients of group I in comparison to group 11, with mean ± SD: 460 ± 279, 167 ± 56 and 149 ± 57, respectively, and P value: 0.001. with mean ±SD: 59.6± 28, when compared with control group (with 23±8) P value < 0.001. ROC curve between Cases and Control as regards CK18 with Area Under the Curve (AUC): 0.925. Cutoff > 30 ug/l With Sensitivity: 86.67% & Specificity: 83.33%. Ck-18 was found to be correlated with steatosis and fibrosis assessed by fibroscan with P value< 0.001.
Conclusion
treatment of 200 patients with HCV and compensated cirrhosis, HCV eradication reduced risk for liver decompensation, regardless of whether the patients had EVs.
Baclofen promotes alcohol abstinence in alcohol dependent cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection