Efficacy of sofosbuvir in the treatment-naïve patients infected with 3a genotype of Hepatitis C.

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to test the efficacy of Sofosbuvir in patients of genotype 3a who are treatment-naïve which represents the most common setting in Pakistan. Study Design: Experimental study. Setting: Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Period: August 2016 to September 2017. Material & Methods: We used an Open label and Quasi Experimental Study Design to test the efficacy of Sofosbuvir in 262 treatment-naïve patients. The duration of the therapy was 24 weeks. All patients were treated with Sofosbuvir 400mg once daily and Ribavirin 400 mg thrice daily. The end of treatment response i.e. ETR was noted at the end by determining the viral load by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Results: Of the 262 patients included in the study, 43 patients left the treatment either due to financial constraints barring them from following up or due to non-compliance. 11 patients left the treatment due to adverse events. 208 patients completed the 24-week therapy from which 201 (96.6 %) patients showed +Ve ETR. Two patients showed relapse both of whom had high viral load. Five patients were non-responders. The rate of discontinuation of Sofosbuvir due to adverse effects was low (4-5%). Conclusion: Patients with HCV genotype 3a have shown promising improvement in treatment response with Sofosbuvir as compared to the older treatment regimes. In contrast to the long duration of treatment and more disabling adverse effects profile of conventional regimes, Sofosbuvir, with its greater therapeutic efficacy and relatively well-tolerated adverse effects, is expected to provide a break-through in treating Hepatitis C and minimizing the incidence of its complications.