Background: The effect of treating chronic (HCV) by direct acting antiviral drugs (DAA) on gastroesophageal varices and variceal bleeding remain unclear
Methods: prospective study we enrolled 200 patients with chronic HCV infection and gastroesophageal varices, Patients were treated with interferon free DAA, we had followed all patients for gastroesophageal varices size, site, risky signs as well as development of acute variceal bleeding before and six months after achieving sustained virological response (SVR)
RESULTS: Development of acute variceal bleeding higher in non SVR group B versus SVR group A (15% in SVR group versus 35% in non SVR group), significant higher mortality rate in non SVR group 10 % versus 1.1 % in SVR group, significant improvement variceal size in SVR group A as large varices (F3) become 11.2% six months after treatment versus 29.4% before treatment, still no significant changes regarding variceal size in non SVR group B. Significant improvement in variceal risky signs was found in SVR group, as risky variceal signs were presented in 143 (79.4%) patients before treatment versus 111 (62.4%) patients six months after treatment
Conclusion: we concluded that there is a reduction in size, risky signs of gastroesophageal varices and reduction in the risk of variceal bleeding and morality rate after achieving SVR using interferon free regimens. These findings magnify the importance the of early diagnosis and treatment of HCV infected patients