1. METABOLIC CHANGES AFTER VIRAL ERADICATION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION Tudor Cuciureanu1,2, Laura Huiban1,2, Stefan Chiriac1,2 Cristina-Maria Muzica 1,2 Ana-Maria Singeap1,2, Carol Stanciu2, Anca Trifan1, “Grigore T Popa“University of Medicine and Pharmacy 2. Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Iasi, Romania
Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C infection is a systemic disease, and it is to be considered nowadays a new cardiovascular risk factor due to its metabolic changes and its effect on the vascular endothelium.
Aim: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the metabolic changes after viral eradication, in order to observe if the cardiovascular risk remains the same or increases after antiviral treatment.
Methodology: We conducted a prospective study between May 2017 and December 2018 in which we included patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHCV) hospitalized in the department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Saint Spiridon Hospital, Iasi. The patients received treatment with direct acting antivirals. All patients included in the study were completely evaluated before and after the treatment and 6 months later. We analyzed the lipid profile, serum glucose and body mass index before and after antiviral treatment with direct acting antivirals.
Results: 100 patients included out of which 58 men and 42 women, mean age years (34-80 years). At the baseline before receiving antiviral treatment, the study group registered higher values of LDL cholesterol in 32% of patients and blood glucose in 28 % in absence of known diabetes.
At first evaluation, 52 patients had the body mass index (BMI) above 25kg/m², out of which 22 had obesity type I, 28 patients were overweight. After obtaining sustained viral response (SVR) in 49 % patients with CHCV is seen an improvement in lipid profile and blood glucose value. At 6 months evaluation from the SVR, an increase of the BMI is seen in 25 % of the patients, LDL – cholesterol increases in 28% of the cases, with no improvement of HDL cholesterol in the study group.
Conclusion: Our study shows an improvement in glucose and lipid profile after SVR in a short term reducing overall cardiac risk, but after a period more than 6 months a small percentage of patients experience weight problems and worsening of the lipid profile due to causes that need further studies.