Clinical Effects of Simvastatin in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Receiving Sofosbuvir/ Daclatasvir Combination

Abstract

Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) affects more than 71 million people worldwide. In Egypt, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health burden with the highest prevalence rate in the world. Many studies have shown derangements in post therapy levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels regardless of the regimen. The role of statins as adjunctive therapy in HCV treatment has so far been limited to the previous standard of care, PEGylated interferon and ribavirin. In vitro studies have showed that statins increase the antiviral activity of different DAAs in an additive manner and delay or even prevent the development of resistance against DAAs. According to our knowledge no clinical trial has been conducted for the combination of statins and DAAs. So, the current study was conducted to investigate the clinical benefits of using simvastatin in CHC patients receiving Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir combination in terms of amelioration of lipid profile and glycemic status. This study was a prospective, interventional, randomized, controlled, double-blinded study included 100 adult (18-75 years old) male Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection who were diagnosed by anti-HCV antibodies. Patients were recruited from outpatient’s clinic of Kobri El koba Armed Forces Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Patients included in the study were allocated to either Interventional group or Control group.