Effect of direct-acting antivirals on platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatitis C virus-related thrombocytopenia

Objectives To study the effect of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) on platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related thrombocytopenia. Background PLR and NLR are correlated with HCV infection, HCV-related liver cirrhosis, HCV-related atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Patients and methods In the current study, we studied 100 patients with HCV-related thrombocytopenia. All patients were subjected to anti-HCV antibody, HBsAg, liver profile, blood urea, serum creatinine, fasting and postprandial blood glucose, complete blood count, iron profile, direct anti-globulin test, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody, and alpha fetoprotein. Abdominal ultrasound, FibroScan, echocardiography, and electrocardiography were done for all patients. Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelets count less than 150.000/mm. The used DAAs were sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, and duration of treatment was 12 weeks. All patients were followed up during antiviral therapy (for 12 weeks) and had extended follow-up for 24 weeks after the end of therapy with DDAs. Quantitative PCR for HCV RNA was done at the start of therapy and at 12 weeks (end of treatment response). PCR for HCV was repeated at 12 weeks after the end of treatment to assess the sustained viral response at 12 weeks after end of treatment (SVR-12) and at 24 weeks after the end of treatment to assess the sustained viral response at 24 weeks after end of treatment (SVR-24). PLR and NLR were calculated by dividing platelet and neutrophil counts, respectively, by lymphocyte count at the start of treatment, then at 4 weeks, at 12 weeks (end of treatment), at 24 weeks (SVR-12), and at 36 weeks (SVR-24). Results The mean age of patients was 49.55±7.79 years, with a range of 33–64 years. They showed female predominance, with females constituting 58.7%. Patients were all Child A status. Liver fibrosis stage was either stages I, II, or III (45, 30, and 25%, respectively). Mean platelet count was 82.25±23.64, 77.01±18.58, 90.84±18.86, 85.02±18.79, and 80.26±18.67 before starting treatment with DAAs, at 4 weeks, at 12 weeks (end or treatment), at 24 weeks (SVR-12), and at 36 weeks (SVR-24), respectively. PLR mean±SD was 74.07±12.76, 76.01±13.58, 65.84±13.86, 62.02±12.79, and 60.26±12.67 before starting treatment with DAAs, at 4 weeks, at 12 weeks (end or treatment), 24 weeks (SVR-12), and at 36 weeks (SVR-24), respectively. NLR mean±SD was 1.61±0.24, 1.64±0.23, 1.50±0.24, 1.45±0.23, and 1.33±0.24 before starting treatment with DAAs, at 4 weeks, 12 weeks (end or treatment), 24 weeks (SVR-12), and at 36 weeks (SVR-24), respectively. Both PLR and NLR initially increased at 4 weeks after the start of treatment and then both significantly decreased to reach lowest level at 36 weeks (SVR-24). Conclusion PLR and NLR are both decreased after HCV eradication by DDAs in HCV-infected patients with thrombocytopenia suggesting improvement of HCV-associated systemic inflammation.

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