Background: Egypt started a national treatment program intending to provide cure for
Egyptian HCV-infected patients. Yet, with the development of highly-effective direct acting
antivirals (DAAs) for HCV, elimination of viral hepatitis has become a real possibility.
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of DAAs on achievement of improvement in liver
fibrosis, and to evaluate risk factors associated with progression of liver fibrosis in patients
achieved sustained virological response (SVR).
Method: the study included 300 patients diagnosed with chronic HCV infection started their
treatment protocol form 2016 who were divided into two groups; Group I (150 patients)
included patients who received Sofosbuvir + Simeprevir ± Ribavirin as dual or triple therapy
(for 12 weeks) for HCV treatment, and Group II (150 patients) included patients who
received Sofosbuvir+ Daclatasvir ± Ribavirin as dual or triple therapy (for 12 weeks) for
HCV treatment. All cases were subjected to complete history taking, thorough physical
examination, routine laboratory investigations, pelviabdominal US together with transient
elastography were ordered for all cases.
Results: both HCV treatment regimens showed improvement in liver fibrosis, fibro scan
parameters showed a significant decrease in both groups compared to the baseline as
pretreatment examination revealed mean values of 9.81 and 9.75 in both groups respectively.
After treatment, both groups had mean values of 8.11 and 8.05. Both groups showed a
significant change compared to its pre treatment value (p < 0.001). There was a significant
negative correlation between fibro scan parameter decrease with age, BMI, and HbA1C
levels. There was no difference in degree of improvement of liver fibrosis between both
regimens.
Conclusion: fibrosis regressed significantly after DAAs therapy regardless the treatment
regimen. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between fibro scan parameter
decrease with age, BMI, and HbA1C levels.