Background Telaprevir (TVR) or boceprevir (BOC) with peg-interferon/ribavirin (PR) to treat HCV genotype 1 is associated with haematological adverse effects like anaemia, neutropenia or thrombocytopenia and alterations in thyroid function. Factors influencing the appearance of these adverse effects remain undefined.

Purpose We aimed to assess the relationship between the characteristics of our population undergoing triple therapy (TT) and those adverse events.

Material and methods 61 patients with hepatitis C genotype 1 treated with triple therapy (TT) during the period between January 2012 to June 2014 were included. We collected demographic data (age, sex), HCV genotype 1 (1a, 1b), fibrosis stage at the beginning of treatment (Metavir score) and TT treatment with TVR or BOC. The adverse effects analysed were: anaemia, thrombocytopenia, decreased granulocyte count and hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism. Fisher exact test was used to study the associations between adverse effects and factors corresponding to patients’ characteristics. Statistical analysis were conducted using the statistical software R.

Results The characteristics of the patients were: 47 men (14 woman), mean age 57 ± 9.3 years, 49 genotype 1b, 53 patients in TT with TVR (9 BOC) and 55 patients fibrosis stage F3–F4.

Anaemia (haemoglobin ≤ 10 g/dL) appeared in 29 (47.5%) patients. Neutropenia (granulocytes ≤ 0.75 × 10⁹/L) appeared in 15 (24.6%) patients. Thrombocytopenia (platelet count ≤ 0.50 × 10⁹/L) appeared in 5 (8.2%) patients. Hyper or Hypothyroidism (THS levels ≤ 0.4 or ≥ 4 mIU/mL respectively) appeared in 18 (29.5%) patients.

Only statistically significant relationship was observed between age and anaemia (p = 0.013).

Conclusion Age and not fibrosis stage was the main factor associated to the development of anaemia during triple therapy.

References

1. D’Ambrosio R, Colombo M. Dig Liver Dis; 2013;45(Suppl 5):S363–6

2. Hézode C, et al. Gastroenterology 2014;147

ReferencesNo conflict of interest.