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Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
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Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies

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Acute changes in cardiac function by direct acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C-infected patients with

Arezoo Khosravi1,2,3, Hamidreza Karimi-Sari1,2,4, Mahdi Abedi-Andani1,2,3

  • 1Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (BRCGL), Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Journal of Medical Virology
|September 12, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in thalassemia patients showed safety and efficacy. While cardiac function parameters changed, ejection fraction remained stable, suggesting careful monitoring for those with pre-existing cardiac issues.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hepatology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Thalassemia patients often experience cardiac complications due to congenital issues, anemia, and iron overload.
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can exacerbate cardiac abnormalities in thalassemia patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy on cardiac function in HCV-infected thalassemia patients.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir-based regimens in this specific patient population.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving HCV-infected thalassemia patients treated with sofosbuvir-based DAA regimens (ledipasvir or daclatasvir ± ribavirin).
  • Echocardiography was performed before and after treatment to assess cardiac function.
  • Patients were monitored for cardiac events for 12 weeks post-treatment.

Main Results:

  • All 32 patients achieved a sustained virological response.
  • Significant increases were observed in left ventricular end-systolic diameter and volume, global longitudinal strain, and right ventricle size post-treatment.
  • No significant changes were noted in other echocardiographic parameters, including ejection fraction, and changes did not correlate with myocardial iron load.

Conclusions:

  • Sofosbuvir-based DAA therapy is safe and effective for HCV-infected thalassemia patients.
  • While some cardiac dimensions changed, overall cardiac function (ejection fraction) remained stable.
  • Specialized echocardiographic evaluation is recommended for patients with a history of cardiac abnormalities or iron overload.
Abstract

Keywords:
cardiac functionechocardiographyhepatitis Cledipasvirsofosbuvirthalassemia

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