The interrelation between lipid profile in chronic HCV patients and their response to antiviral agents

ABSTRACT

Objectives

This study aims to assess the changes of lipid profile in chronic HCV patients; before, during, and after treatment with DAAs and their association with treatment response.

Methods

301 chronic HCV patients who received SOF-based therapy were included. Serum lipid profile was assessed at different check points; baseline, 6 weeks on treatment, end of treatment (EOT) and 12 weeks after EOT; and compared between SVR and non-SVR groups.

Results

SVR group had significantly higher baseline lipid parameters compared to non-SVR group with significant increase in lipid parameters at different time points apart from HDL-C. Non-SVR group showed non-significant change in lipid parameters apart from LDL-C. On week6 on treatment, cholesterol level > 125 mg/dl was 92.8% sensitive, 97.3% specific with 95.5% NPV, and AUC of 0.989 in prediction of SVR. Similarly, LDL > 57 mg/dl was 83.7% sensitive, 100% specific with 93.3%, NPV and AUC of 0.952. Baseline cholesterol and LDL were significantly associated with SVR.

Conclusion

Higher baseline lipid parameters and their further elevation starting from week 6 on treatment are good predictors of SVR in HCV patients. Successful HCV therapy with DAAs is associated with a significant increase in lipid parameters.

KEYWORDS:

• Lipid profile
• DAAs
• SVR
• extrahepatic manifestations
• on-treatment response
• sofosbuvir
• metabolic syndrome

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Author contributions

Rasha Eletreby: Interpretation of the data, drafting of the paper and the final approval of the version to be published. Mahmoud Anees: conception and design, critical revision for intellectual content and the final approval of the version to be published. Mariam Naguib: clinical management of the study patients, collecting, and analysis of data. Abdelrahman Kobtan: conception and design, critical revision for intellectual content. Amal Helmy: performing laboratory tests for the patients. Nahla Khalaf, Shimaa Mansour: clinical management of the study patients. Mohamed Hassany, Wahid Doss: supervision of clinical management. Wafaa Elakel: data analysis. Ahmed Hashem: revision for intellectual content. Gamal Esmat: conception and design. All authors made substantial contributions to concept and design of the study, revised the manuscript, and gave their approval to the final version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is not funded.