Longitudinal assessment of HCV core antigen kinetics to monitor therapeutic response in the age of DAAs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the economy of therapeutic monitoring, an affordable viral marker is essential in the era of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). We elucidated the kinetics of HCVcAg to delineate its precise role in monitoring therapeutic response.

Methods

In this longitudinal study, 3208 patients were tested for HCV RNA. A total of 423 patients were started on DAAs. Treatment response and kinetics of HCVcAg/RNA were assessed in treatment-naïve (n = 383) and previously treated (n = 40) patients with follow-up for 2 years.

Results

After the initiation of DAAs, the rate of relapse was significantly higher in the previously treated group than naive group [12.5% (5/40) Vs 2% (7/383), p<0.0001]. The response rate at RVR was significantly higher with HCVcAg than RNA in both group

SUBMITTER: Ponnuvel S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9937470 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature