1. Experience with Direct Acting Agents for the Treatment of Hepatitis C in Flanders.
Bielen R1,2, Robaeys G1,2,7, Cool M3,7, Decaestecker J4,7, Janssens F5,7, George C6,7, Laleman W,7 Verslype C7, Cassiman D2,7, Van der Merwe S7, Nevens F7
Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences , University Hasselt, Diepenbeek, Belgium
Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, ZOL Genk, Belgium
Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, AZ Damiaan, Oostende, Belgium
Department of Gastro-Entrology and Hepatology, AZ Delta, Roeselare , Belgium
Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium
Department of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, AZ Groeninge, Kortrijk, Belgium
Departement of Gastro-Enterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium
Introduction
The development of direct acting antivirals has revolutionized HCV care. We present the experience in KU Leuven affiliated hospitals with the latest generation of direct acting antivirals without concomitant use of interferon.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study conducted between August 2015 and November 2015 in 6 Belgian centers. Patients infected with HCV, who were treated with the new regimes of DAA following the recent EASL guidelines between March 2013 and November 2015 were included. In case antiviral treatment was started data were collected in a central database, with main focus on treatment outcome and side effects.
Purpose
To investigate the safety and efficacy of the newest generation of direct acting antivirals in the general population in Flanders.
Patient characteristics
Daclatasvir/
Sofosbuvir  
(n= 72 )
Simeprevir/ Sofosbuvir  
(n= 52 )
Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir Ritonavir – Dasabuvir (n = 27)
Total
(n = 151 )
Age (y)
56 ­± 11
62 ± 13
53 ± 12
57 ± 12
Male gender
48/72 (66.6%)
32/52 (61.5%)
17/27 (62.9%)
97/151 (64.2%)
BMI
26.04 ± 5.08
25.84 ± 3.75
26.52 ± 5.24
26.08 ± 4.72
PWID
19/65 (29.2%)
5/38 (13.1%)
2/27 (7.4%)
26/130 (20%)
HCV genotype 1a 1b
1 (other) 2 3 4 5
16/72 (22.2%)
29/72 (40.3%) /
21/72 (29.2%)
4/72 (5.6%)
2/72 (2.8%)
6/46 (13.0%)
31/46 (67.3%)
2/46 (4.3%)
7/46 (15.2%)
3/27 (11.1%)
23/27 (85.1%)
1/27 (3.7%)
25/145 (17.2%)
83/145 (57.2%)
2/145 (1.4%)
21/145 (14.5%)
12/145 (8.3%)
Treatment history
Naïve
1 previous
2 previous
More
31/64 (48.4%)
20/64 (31.2%)
10/64 (15.6%)
3/64 (4.7%)
14/43 (32.5%)
22/43 (51.2%)
6/43 (14.0%)
1/43 (2.3%)
13/27 (48.1%)
10/27 (37.0%)
4/27 (14.8%)
58/134 (43.2%)
52/134 (38.8%)
20/134 (14.9%)
4/134 (3.0%)
Conclusion Real-life experience with DAAs in Belgium shows comparable excellent results in achieving SVR for the treatment of HCV. Side effects were seen especially related to ribavirin, but there was no need to interrupt the DAA,
This study is part of the Limburg Clinical Research Program (LCRP) UHasselt-ZOL-Jessa, supported by the foundation Limburg SterkMerk, Hasselt University, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg and Jessa Hospital