Distribution of chronic hepatitis C genotype and evaluation of clinical factors affecting direct-acting antiviral treatment responses in the Western Black Sea Region, Turkey

Z. Gok Sargin, I. Dusunceli

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey. drszeynepgok@yahoo.com

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• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) is a substantial global public health issue with significant variation between countries because of the genotypic differences. A sustained viral response (SVR) is essential to reduce the complications associated with CHC and can be achieved in most patients via direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). The present study aimed at determining the genotype distribution in patients with CHC in our region and the SVR in DAA therapy patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted retrospectively on 272 patients treated with DAA between September 2016 and 2021. Data including demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients (HCV RNA level, genotype, hepatitis B and HIV serology, cirrhosis and decompensation, presence of hepatocellular cancer, degree of hepatosteatosis, previous anti-HCV treatment experience, comorbidities) were recorded. The study’s primary endpoint was to determine the SVR at week 24.

RESULTS: Genotype 1 was the most common genotype (94.5%), with genotype 1b accounting for most patients (78%) among those. It was observed that the patients received Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir/Dasabuvir (OPRD) (47%), Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDS) (38%), and Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GCP) (15%) as DAA treatment. SVR was observed in 92% (223) of the 240 patients at the end of 24 weeks. SVR-24 was significantly higher in the patient group with serum HCV RNA level ≤ 852.533 (p=0.002), in the hypertensive group (p=0.018), and without the psychiatric disease group (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: A high rate of SVR-24 was achieved by DAAs in CHC patients, most of whom were genotype 1 in the Western Black Sea Region, Turkey. Also, high viral load, hypertension, and psychiatric disease affected SVR-24, and clinical factors, such as cirrhosis, cirrhosis complications, hepatosteatosis, and other comorbidities did not.

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