Treatment of chronic genotype-3 hepatitis C virus infection using direct-acting antiviral agents: An Indian experience.

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) are favored for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the experience with the DAAs currently available in India in the treatment of genotype-3 HCV is limited. We therefore reviewed our experience with these drugs in treating patients with chronic genotype-3 HCV infection, including those with cirrhosis.

METHODS: We prospectively followed adult patients with genotype-3 HCV infection who had received treatment regimens containing sofosbuvir with/without daclatasvir. Patients were categorized as chronic hepatitis C (CHC), compensated cirrhosis (CC), and decompensated cirrhosis (DC). They received either (i) sofosbuvir and ribavirin, with or without pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) for 12 or 24 weeks, or (ii) sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks. Response was assessed using HCV RNA testing after 2 or 4 weeks of treatment (rapid virological response [RVR]), at treatment completion (end-of-treatment response [ETR]) or 12 weeks after treatment completion (sustained virological response [SVR12]).

RESULTS: Of the 160 patients (90% treatment-naïve; CHC 49%, CC 32%, and DC 19%), 39 (24%) received Peg-IFN, sofosbuvir and ribavirin, 21 (13%) received sofosbuvir and ribavirin, and 100 (63%) received sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin. On intention-to-treat basis, RVR, ETR, and SVR12 in the entire cohort were 146/160 (91.3%), 151/160 (94.4%), and 147/160 (91.9%), respectively. Seven patients died (CC 2, DC 5) during treatment; four (2 CHC, 2 DC) patients discontinued treatment; and two patients with CC relapsed.

CONCLUSIONS: Dual-DAA-based regimens were safe and highly effective in treating genotype-3 HCV infection in CHC and CC patients.