A Hepatitis C Virus-Associated Chronic Hepatitis Patient Developing Various Adverse Events Including Severe Gingivitis, Gingival Bleeding, and Inflammation of Genital Vulva during the Course of Antiviral Therapy with Elbasvir/Grazoprevir

Abstract

Oral direct-acting antivirals comprise the main therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease in Japan. Daclatasvir/asunaprevir is the primary agent and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir is the secondary agent for HCV genotype 1b. Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir was also recommended as a therapy for HCV genotype 1b. More recently, elbasvir (NS5A inhibitor)/grazoprevir (NS3/4A protease inhibitor) was also recommended as a potent therapy for HCV genotype 1b infection. This agent achieved an SVR₁₂ as high as 96.5% for HCV virus-associated chronic hepatitis. We recently encountered a case treated with this agent and the female patient showed various adverse events, such as severe gingivitis, gingival bleeding, severe tonsillitis, inflammation of the genital vulva, and the sustained sensation of being hungry. In spite of the gingival bleeding, there was no depletion of the platelet count, nor elongation of the prothrombin time. She tolerated these adverse events and finally completed the therapy and achieved SVR₁₂.