Long term follow-up results of HCV RNA positive patients in bezmi̇alem vakif univeristy health practice and research center: A retrospective study

Introduction And Aim: Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver disease. The worldwide HCV prevalence is difficult to predict with certainty. Lack of diagnosis, notification and systemic surveillance in most countries are the main causes . The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that about 58 million people have had chronic HCV infections in 2022. However, about 1.5 million new infections occur each year. Overall prevalence in our country is estimated at just under 0.3%. In older studies, 80% of anti-HCV positive people were reported to be HCV RNA positive, but current research has shown that this rate is between 50-60%. In this study, HCV RNA positive patients at Bezmialem Vakıf University were intended to identify clinical, demographic, evolving chronic liver disease, laboratory characteristics, and determine the persistent viral response rate in patients who received treatment. Method: The study was designed retrospectively. Our working group included patients who were positive for HCV RNA between January 26, 2014 and October 17, 2020 at Bezmialem Vakıf University. The data was taken from our hospital's registration system. The patients' age, sex, genotype, treatments they received, chronic decomposition status and laboratory parameters were assessed. In the study outcome, patients with positive HCV RNA received treatment, developing chronic liver disease, mortality rate, persistent viral response rate were determined. Results: The study included 99 patients with HCV RNA positive. 37.4% of the patient group (n = 37) were male and 62.6% (n = 62) were female. The diagnostic ages of the cases involved in the study averaged 57.86 ± 14.17. Patients received 74 (74.7%) antiviral treatments. Before treatment, 50 patients underwent liver biopsy assessments. When patients receiving treatment are examined 50% "sin (n = 37) Ombitasvir + Paritaprevir and Ritonavir + Dasabuvir, 10.8%" in (n = 8) Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin, 5.4% "reputation (n = 4) Interferon + Ribaverin + Bocepevir was found to receive 10.8%" in (n = 8) 2 Glekapiravir + Pibrentasvir and 23% (n = 17) Ledipasvir + Sofosbuvir treatments. The CVY rate was 94.5% (74/70). When genotypes of cases are examined; 8.1% "in (n = 8) genotype 1A, 72.7% (n = 72) genotype 1B, 6.1%" in (n = 6) genotype 2, 8.1% (n = 8) genotype 3 and 5.1% "in (n = 5)) was found to be genotype 4. Patients developed 27 (27.7%) cirrhosis and 5 (5%) hepatocellular carcinoma. The mortality rate of cases that were HCV positive, was determined to be statistically significant levels higher than those that were HCV negative. xiii Conclusion: Mortality rates are higher in non-treated hepatitis C patients. Moreover, MELD score is higher in those patients than treated patients. So, we desperately need to treat all patients with Hep C infection. Keywords: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), direct-acting antiviral therapy, persistent viral response, hepatocellular carcinoma