Effects of antiviral therapy on reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Aim – to evaluate the effect of direct antiviral drugs (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) on the formation of the metabolic syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis C with a high risk of its development 2 years after treatment.Materials and methods. 112 patients with HCV (n=112) were examined, in whom the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome was determined using a specially developed method. In 58 patients, a high risk of developing metabolic syndrome was identified. This cohort of patients was divided into two groups: group 1 (n=26) who took sofosbuvir and velpatasvir and group 2 (n=32) who did not take AVT. Patients were periodically examined and observed for 2 years. At the final stage of observation, a comparative analysis of laboratory and instrumental data was carried out in patients in two comparison groups.Results. At the start of AVT, HCV patients with a high risk of developing metabolic syndrome were found to be over-weight, moderately pronounced stage of liver fibrosis (F2 according to METAVIR), high viral load, increased transaminases, total low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, atherogenic coefficient, insulin, glucose. Two years after the etiotropic therapy in HCV patients with a high risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, normalization of blood lipid metabolism, glucose, insulin levels and a decrease in the concentration of total thyroxine were registered.Conclusion. Etiotropic therapy with direct antiviral drugs in patients with chronic hepatitis C reduces the relative risk of developing the metabolic syndrome by 6,3 times.