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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem all over the world including Egypt. Chronic HCV infection is usually accompanied by decrease of libido and erectile dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of new oral direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy on sexual function of male patients with HCV. This study was conducted on 200 male participants divided into two groups, first group included 100 male patients with HCV and the second group included 100 healthy age matched males as a control. Patients received DAA for three months and virological free status was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. All participants were subjected to full history taking, general examination and local genital examination, assessment of sexual function by a validated Arabic version of the international index of erectile function‐5. Laboratory investigations included liver functions serum testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone‐binding globulin and bioavailable testosterone. Results of this study showed that patients with HCV suffer from sexual dysfunction than controls that significantly improved after DAA therapy, and this is accompanied by increasing of bioavailable testosterone. It could be concluded that beside its effectiveness in treatment of HCV infection, DAA therapy can improve sexual function in male patients with HCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Egypt had been vexed by the highest load of chronic hepatitis C in the world. It represents a vast market of the new direct-acting anti-viral drugs (DAAs); effectively treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Objectives: The aim of this study is to detect the occurrence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the follow-up after antiviral treatment with direct acting antiviral therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection and in patient with chronic HCV prior history of treated hepatocellular carcinoma who achieved complete response. Subjects and methods: This was prospective study including 150 patients with compensated chronic hepatitis C virus infection and 150 patients with compensated chronic hepatitis C virus infection prior history of treated hepatocellular carcinoma. The patients were attending Aswan university hospital and viral hepatitis unit in addition to Viral Hepatitis Unit and were prospectively collected at the end of December 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: Group (A): patients with chronic HCV infection who were treated with direct acting antivirals. Group (B): patients with chronic HCV infection prior history of treated hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated with direct acting antivirals. Results: The results of the study revealed that there was no significant difference between the studied groups as regard time needed for HCC to occur after DAA. Conclusion: Surveillance programs should be widely endorsed during and after DAAs therapy for patients at HCC risk, even for those who had been achieved HCV cure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct-acting antiviral (DAAs) therapy showed high safety and efficacy profile in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) particularly those with previous or current psychiatric illness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and potential risk factors of depression and psychological distress following DAAs therapy in CHC euthymic Egyptian patients with no previous or current diagnosis of any psychiatric disorders., Methods: This is a prospective study that included 126 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype-4. Patients were candidate for DAAs therapy and were recruited consecutively (convenient sample) from the viral hepatitis center, Department of Endemic medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy Hospitals, Cairo University. Symptom Checklist 90-R, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID IV) were performed at baseline and at 12 weeks post-treatment with DAAs., Results: Forty-seven patients were included in the final analysis. Depression severity increased after treatment as BDI scores increased significantly than baseline scores (p= < 0.001). About one third of patients (32%) had moderate to severe depression. All Symptom Checklist-90 scores showed significant increase after treatment., Limitations: Dropout rate of patients for the 12 weeks post-treatment assessment was 33.8%., Conclusion: Depression and psychological distress can occur with DAAs treatments. Close psychosocial assessment and patient monitoring are still needed., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Different combinations of Direct Antiviral Agents (DAAs) have been used against different Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes and in different types of patients. Despite being effective and characterized by a very low rate of adverse effects in clinical trials, few data are available on adverse events in real life studies., Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and pattern of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused by DAAs; daclatasvir and sofosbuvir and their combination with ribavirin and to assess the causality and the severity of the reported ADRs., Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over six months at treatment HCV center of Health Insurance Hospital in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt. A pre-tested, interviewed structured questionnaire was used by authors to gather required data from 345 enrolled patients regarding demographics, co-morbidity and ADRs. Causality and severity of ADRs were assessed., Results: According to our data. we have found that 75.7% (261out of 345) patients reported 36 different ADRs involving different systems, of these 1.2% experienced Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), including three deaths (0.9%). A majority of ADRs were more significantly reported with ribavirin-containing regimen. Out of 345 patients, 23.5% have comorbidities. Among them, 92.6% reported ADRs. Causality assessment of ADRs by WHO-UMC criteria revealed that 38.89% were probable while 61.11% were possible., Conclusion: New antiviral drugs require careful follow-up of any significant adverse event that may occur and can affect adherence. Special population as the elderly and those with comorbidities should always be managed with caution to avoid development of serious side effects., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)