Emergence of direct antiviral agents (DAAs), and campaign done by the National Committee for
Control of Viral Hepatitis (NCCVH), reduced chronic hepatitis C (CHC) prevalence in Egypt. This
study evaluated the efficacy and safety of used DAAs in affiliated centers from October 2017 to
December 2019. Patients were either started treatment or during follow-up for 1 year after therapy
(EOT). They were divided according to treatment into GI: SOF/DAC for 12 weeks, GII: SOF/DAC/
RBV for 12 weeks, GIII: SOF/SIM for 12 weeks, GIV: SOF/RBV for 24 weeks and GV: SOF/
DAC/RBV for 24 weeks. DAAs were effective in all groups, and adverse effects occurred in 54 patients
(38.6%).
The commonest complications were ascites (n=18) followed by jaundice (n=17) and HCC (n=14).
Patients (97.1%) in GIV complained of adverse effects compared to others with a significant difference
(p<0.001). Hematemesis occurred in one patient in GIV. There was also a significantly higher
proportion of ascites (38.2%) in GIV compared to others (P < 0.01), without significant differences
between groups regarding HCC and renal impairment (RI) (P= 0.316 & 0.758 respectively). Five
treatment experienced patients suffered from side effects. Renal impairment was (12.5%) among interferon
(IFN) experienced and SOF/DAC experienced patients and who were treated among GIV
and GV, hepatic encephalopathy was (12.5%) in IFN experienced and SOF/RBV experienced patients
among GIV or GV, but ascites (6.3%) and jaundice (6.3%) were among GIV. None complained
of hematemesis or HCC.