Mixed-Genotype HCV Direct Acting Antiviral Outcomes: A CANUHC Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a significant global health concern.
• Understanding the prevalence of mixed HCV genotype infections is crucial for treatment strategies.
• Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized HCV treatment, offering high cure rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of mixed HCV genotype infections in a Canadian cohort.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of DAAs in achieving sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with mixed HCV genotypes.
• To assess if mixed genotype status impacts treatment outcomes with modern DAA regimens.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of a large Canadian HCV cohort.
• Identification of HCV genotypes in enrolled participants.
• Evaluation of SVR rates following DAA treatment initiation.
• Comparison of SVR rates between patients with single and mixed HCV genotypes.

Main Results:

• A total of 3272 HCV-positive participants were enrolled; 2945 initiated DAA therapy.
• Mixed HCV genotype infection was identified in only 0.8% of the cohort.
• The overall SVR rate was 99.1% and was not significantly different between patients with single and mixed genotypes.
• No historical disadvantage in achieving cure was observed for mixed genotype infections with DAA therapy.

Conclusions:

• Mixed HCV genotype infections are uncommon in the studied Canadian population.
• Current DAA regimens are highly effective in curing HCV, irrespective of genotype.
• DAA therapy has effectively overcome previous challenges in treating mixed HCV genotype infections.