Hepatitis C virus is one of the flaviviruses that can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. Chronic HCV infection often follows a progressive course over years that could result in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and possible liver transplantation. Identifying modifiable risk factors that add to progression of the disease in HCV patients aids in choosing treatment approaches and overall disease management. Hepatic fibrosis may occur as a result of obesity, host, virus-mediated factors and hepatic steatosis. Nonetheless, the role of overweight and obesity on hepatitis C progression remains debatable. Nowadays, Direct Acting Antiviral therapy is the cornerstone of treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection aiming to eradicate HCV RNA, which is predicted by reaching sustained virologic response (SVR). This prospective observational cross sectional study assessed the impact of obesity on the SVR to Sofosbuvir based therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection. The study included 188 chronic hepatitis C patients eligible for antiviral therapy according to the Egyptian guidelines issued by the National Committee for Control of Viral Hepatitis. G1: 93 obese patients
with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 & G2: 95 non obese patients with BMI < 30kg/m2. Each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups; GA received Sofosbuvir & Daclatasvir, GB received Sofosbuvir & Simeprevir while GC received Sofosbuvir & Ledipasvir.
The results showed that overall SVR was 96.7% in G1 and 95.7% in G2. There was no association found between stage of fibrosis and SVR, and no significant association reached between obesity and sustained virologic response (SVR) to Sofosbuvir based regimens.