A Real-World Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Paritaprevir/Ombitasvir/Ritonavir and Dasabuvir, with or without Ribavirin, in 587 Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C at the Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania

BACKGROUND: In the European Union, a tablet with fixed doses of ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir combined with dasabuvir is an authorized treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum antiviral used in several treatment regimens for patients with HCV infection. This real-world study aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir combined with dasabuvir, with or without ribavirin, in 587 patients with chronic hepatitis C attending the Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. MATERIAL/METHODS: This is an observational prospective study including 315 patients with F4 degree of fibrosis and compensated cirrhosis, 185 patients with F3 fibrosis, and 83 patients with F2 fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by liver biopsy or Fibromax. Efficacy was defined as undetectable HCV-RNA at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. In terms of safety, we monitored the development of adverse reactions, liver cytolysis, cholestasis, and hematologic disorders. RESULTS: Of the 587 patients, 2 patients with B-cell lymphoma died during therapy. In total, 3/585 patients (0.51%) did not achieve sustained virologic response. Common adverse effects were nausea and asthenia (especially in patients with other medical treatments; P=0.03 and P=0.04, respectively) and anemia in patients who received ribavirin (P<0.01). None of the patients discontinued antiviral treatment. Patients with kidney transplant or end-stage kidney disease did not receive or discontinued ribavirin. CONCLUSIONS: Ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir combined with dasabuvir, with or without ribavirin had an efficacy rate of over 99% in HCV genotype 1b infection. We report no serious adverse reactions.