Skip to main content

Hepatitis C Anti-Viral Drug-Induced Arthritis

Curative direct-acting antiviral therapy (DAAT) for hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infection has been revolutionary, but a novel report shows that nearly one quarter of DAAT treated patients developed new onset or significant worsening of MSK symptoms, despite being negative for hepatitis-C by PCR.

This study examined if DAAT(daclatasavir and sofosbuvir) treatment in HCV-patients had any MSK manifestations. All adult HCV-infected patients, who had completed DAAT leading to being PCR-negative were included in this study.

Chronic MSK symptoms were defined as any arthralgias lasting for > 6 weeks and not being related to trauma or occupational hazards. Worsening of MSK symptoms was defined as > 50% worsening of MSK symptoms compared to before commencing DAAT.

A total of 250 consecutive HCV-patients completing DAAT and being PCR-negative were evaluated.  The mean follow up after commencing DAAT was 6.5 months. Nearly one-quarter (27.6%) had chronic MSK symptoms prior to DAAT. Rheumatologic diagnoses included fibromyalgia (38), seronegative inflammatory arthritis (16) and rheumatoid arthritis (6). While 18 out of 69 (26%)  had stable MSK symptoms after DAAT, 74% had worsening of MSK symptoms after DAAT therapy.

Worsening of MSK symptoms incuded 43% (22/51) with inflammatory arthritis and the rest had chronic myofascial pains.  There were 11 cases of new onset of MSK symptoms post-DAAT, with half (53%) having inflammatory arthritis.

This is the first report of MSK complications arising from DAAT in HCV patients.

ADD THE FIRST COMMENT

If you are a health practitioner, you may to comment.

Due to the nature of these comment forums, only health practitioners are allowed to comment at this time.

Disclosures
The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose related to this subject