CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF ORAL ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT FOR NON-CARDIAC HCV PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Egypt is quite high, and the combined oral direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) may have impressive results. Objectives: To assess the cardiovascular effects of oral antiviral treatment in non-cardiac HCV patients. Paitents and Methods: The study enrolled 100 patients with positive HCV who were enrolled for the new oral antiviral therapy in the form of Sofosbuvir and dclatsavir with or without ribavirin for 3 or 6 months. All patients on our study were subjected to follow up pre-and post-oral antiviral course, and the end point of the study was the development of a major cardiovascular event, e.g. congestive heart failure, echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular dysfunction, occurrence of significant arrhythmias, or acute coronary syndrome. The following parameters were accomplished: medical history and clinical examination, electrocardiogram, Echo-Doppler study, and laboratory investigations. Results: No significant differences were found between the patients regarding demographic criteria. None of the patients had developed any major cardiac event. No significant changes were observed regarding ST segment and T wave abnormalities, arrhythmias, or QT interval. None of patients developed echocardiographic regional wall motion abnormalities at baseline or at study end. Systolic function parameters showed minute non-significant changes over study visits. Diastolic function parameters showed non-significant changes between baseline and post oral antiviral course visit. Conclusion: The DAAs used in combination regimen didn’t significantly affect the cardiovascular system.