Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index Before and After the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir

Abstract

Background: The aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) is a non-invasive method used to investigate liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the APRI before and after the treatment of HCV patients with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir (Sovodak) in the city of Rafsanjan, southeast Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with HCV from March 2021 to March 2022 in Rafsanjan. Demographic information, including age, gender, a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and intravenous (IV) drug injection, was collected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed after treatment with Sovodak to calculate sustained virological response (SVR). Also, the APRI was calculated before and after treatment. Results: Among 45 HCV patients (97.8% = male, 2.2% = female, age range = 26 to 59 years), the administration of Sovodak to all patients resulted in an efficacy of 100% in the assessment of SRV in 12 weeks (SVR12). Also, the APRI level decreased significantly after treatment with Sovodak (0.35 vs. 0.68, P-value: 0.000), even in HCV patients with a history of HIV (0.77 vs. 1.47, P-value: 0.028) or HCV patients with a history of injecting drugs in the last 12 months (0.38 vs. 0.66, P-value: 0.000). Conclusions: The present study indicated that the APRI level in HCV patients decreased significantly after treatment with Sovodak, regardless of having a history of HIV infection or a history of drug injection. Therefore, Sovodak in HCV patients can reduce the odds of liver fibrosis and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by reducing the APRI level.