Results of regional care for patients with cirrhosis of the liver in the outcome of viral hepatitis C in the era of direct-acting antiviral drugs

Objective: to assess the effect of antiviral therapy on the clinical course and survival in patients with cirrhosis of the liver in the outcome of chronic viral hepatitis C.

Materials and methods: a retrospective analysis of the medical histories of 325 patients with cirrhosis of the liver in the outcome of chronic viral hepatitis C, who were on the waiting list for liver transplantation from 2014 to 2024. The patients were divided into 2 groups: patients who received antiviral therapy (n=273), and patients who did not receive antiviral therapy (n=52).

Results: in the group of patients who received antiviral therapy, 219 (80.2%) patients were alive at the time of the diagnosis, including 57 (20.8%) people achieved liver function compensation and were excluded from the waiting list for liver transplantation; 42 (15.3%) patients underwent liver transplantation. The dynamics of clinical and laboratory indicators in patients from this group improved. In the group of patients who did not receive antiviral therapy, 2 (3.8%) patients were alive at the time of the examination, none of the patients had achieved liver function recompensation. The dynamics of clinical and laboratory indicators in patients of this group worsened.

Conclusion: antiviral therapy has a positive effect on the survival of patients with cirrhosis of the liver in the outcome of chronic viral hepatitis C, as well as on the clinical course and laboratory parameters, which necessitates the earliest possible implementation of this therapy. Clinical and laboratory monitoring of these patients is also needed to prevent re-infection with viral hepatitis C, early detection of decompensation of liver function, and the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

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