Evaluation of clinical outcomes in patients followed with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C

Introduction and Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent both in Turkey and globally. The disease may progress through stages of acute and chronic infection, potentially leading to cirrhosis, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and may ultimately result in death. It is a single-stranded, enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus that was discovered in 1989. Although it is a hepatotropic virus, extrahepatic manifestations may also occur. The primary objective of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment is to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR), thereby preventing hepatic and extrahepatic complications as well as disease-related mortality. With the introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) into treatment regimens, high rates of sustained virological response (SVR) have been achieved. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the treatment regimens, laboratory parameters, and radiological imaging findings of patients diagnosed with hepatitis C infection. This study was conducted as a single-center, retrospective cohort investigation. The study included patients diagnosed with hepatitis C who presented to Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital from January 1, 2014, to January 31, 2024. Data for the patients were extracted from the hospital information management system, and the radiological reports and laboratory results of 244 individuals diagnosed with hepatitis C were evaluated. Results: Among the 244 patients included, all were Anti-HCV positive, with values ranging from 0.1 to 101.0. The cohort comprised 86 females (35.25%) and 158 males (64.75%). Information regarding the treatment regimen was available for 93 patients (38.11%), while it remained unknown for 151 patients (61.89%). Initial ultrasonography (USG) results showed that 125 patients (51.23%) were non-cirrhotic, while 39 patients (15.98%) exhibited cirrhosis. For 80 patients (32.79%), initial USG results were unavailable. During follow-up, USG findings indicated that 88 patients (36.07%) were non-cirrhotic and 37 patients (15.16%) were cirrhotic. Initial HCV RNA levels varied widely, ranging from 0.0 to 16,620,000.0 IU/mL. Of the study population, 74 patients (30.33%) were deceased, whereas 170 patients (69.67%) remained alive at the time of data collection. Conclusion: The study identified significant deficiencies in the treatment and follow-up of Anti-HCV–positive patients, particularly due to insufficient engagement with specialists relevant to their condition. In recent years, the implementation of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies has demonstrated significant effectiveness in preventing both the progression of hepatitis C and its associated complications. Keywords:Hepatitis C virus, cirrhosis, direct-acting antivirals (DAA), HCV RNA