Prospective Study of Changes in Anti-HCV Immunoglobulin G Antibody Titers after Treatment with Direct Acting Antiviral Agents

摘要

Introduction: worldwide, approximately 180 million people are living with CHC, which corresponds to a global prevalence of 1.1% and millions more are newly infected each year. Annually, 700.000 people die from HCV-related complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aim of the work: the present study investigated the dynamics of change in various HCV antibodies in patients with CHC who achieved SVR after DAAs. Methodology: this was a prospective case-control study that was conducted on 150 patients. They were categorized into three main groups: Group I: included 100 patients with chronic HCV infection as diagnosed by SRT-PCR. They were submitted to treatment with DAAs for 12 weeks. Group II (positive control group): Included 25 patients who presented with CHC infection as diagnosed by positive anti-HCV IgG antibodies and positive HCV SRT-PCR, but either refuse or postpone HCV therapy or the treatment of HCV itself was contraindicated. Group III (negative control group) : included 25 patients, apparently healthy individuals who test positive for anti-HCV IgG antibodies, but negative HCV SRT-PCR. HCV IgG Ab titers was assessed by commercially available third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at base line, end of treatment and then at the 24th week (i.e. 12 weeks after the end of treatment). Results : as regard HCVAb, it showed a significant statistical difference (p- value 0.001) between titer results at baselin12th week and 24th week in patients group I; as HCV Ab titers were 3.3 ± 0.2 mg/dl at baseline and declined to 2.7 ±0.2 at 12th week and 2.4± 0.3 at 24th week. But, there was no statistical significant difference (p-value 0.05) between HCV Ab titer results at baseline, 12th week and 24th week in the studied positive control patients group II as HCV Ab titers were 3.1 ± 0.2 at baseline, 3.2 ±0.2 at 12th week and (3.2± 0.1) at 24th week week. Also, there was no statistical significant difference (p-value 0.05) between HCV Ab titer results at baseline, 12th week and24th week in studied negative control patients group III as HCV Ab titers were 1.22 ± 08 at baseline, (1.23±0.08) at 12th week and 1.24± 0.07 at 24th week. Conclusion: HCV antibody titer appeared to continue to decrease after eradication of HCV by DAAs therapy.