Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia during treatment of genotype 3 chronic hepatitis C - a case report

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Cardiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects over 185 million globally, with 350,000 annual deaths.
• HCV is now curable, with advancing therapies improving cure rates.
• Pegylated Interferon (PegINF)-based therapies remain a primary treatment, despite potential severe adverse events like cardiovascular disease.

Observation:

• A 55-year-old female with severe Hepatitis C genotype 3 experienced recurrent syncope and palpitations during PegINF and ribavirin treatment.
• Diagnostic workup revealed non-sustained ventricular arrhythmias.
• No other cardiac causes (e.g., coronary heart disease, heart failure) were identified, suggesting treatment-induced etiology.

Findings:

• The patient's cardiovascular events were attributed to PegINF therapy.
• PegINF therapy was successfully continued at a reduced dose upon confirmed viral clearance.
• No further complications occurred after dose adjustment.

Implications:

• This case underscores the challenges in managing HCV treatment complications, particularly cardiovascular adverse events.
• Non-invasive cardiovascular diagnostic methods play a crucial supportive role in decision-making during complex treatment scenarios.
• Careful patient monitoring and individualized treatment adjustments are essential for optimizing HCV therapy outcomes.