Potential interactions between pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals and concomitant cardiovascular therapies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential drug interactions (DIs) between pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals (pDAAs) and concomitant cardiovascular (CV) therapies in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). METHODS: A retrospective observational study was carried out. Patients ≥18 years of age diagnosed with CHC and treated with pDAAs during 2017 were included. Information was collected on concomitant CV therapies and potential DIs [www.hep-druginteractions.org]. The pDAAs analyzed were sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL), glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (SOF/VEL/VOX). An analysis including lipid-lowering drugs was also performed. RESULTS: In total, 1286 patients (mean age 64.9 years, 56.6% men) were recruited. The percentages of potential DIs with CV drugs were 1.9% contraindications, 38.1% clinically significant and 2.4% weak. When lipid-lowering drugs were included, the percentages of potential DIs with CV drugs were 10.3% contraindications, 46.3% clinically significant and 3.2% weak. Potential DIs associated with each pDAA were as follows (contraindications; clinically significant; weak): SOF/VEL (1.4%; 23.0%; 0.9%), GLE/PIB (12.8%; 60.8%; 4.7%) and SOF/VEL/VOX (16.6%; 55.1%; 4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately on third of patients with CHC are concomitantly treated with CV drugs. SOF/VEL may have fewer DIs with CV drugs than other pDAAs.