THYROID DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH ANTI-HCV ORAL DIRECT ACTING ANTIVIRAL THERAPY

Background: Hepatitis C is highly prevalent in Pakistan and direct acting antiviral agents have replaced interferon-based regimen due to better safety, however, its association with thyroid dysfunction remains unclear. This study was thus conducted to determine prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients treated for hepatitis C infection with oral direct acting anti-viral therapy. Methods: This multi-centre prospective cohort study was conducted at Medicine Department of Tehsil Headquarter Hospital, Sarai Alamgir, Pakistan; District Headquarter Hospital, Sargodha, Pakistan and Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan from June 2023 to February-2026. A total of 280 patients with hepatitis C infection without any prior thyroid dysfunction were included. All of these patients were treated with Sofosbuvir 400mg and Daclatasvir 60mg for 12 weeks. At completion, patients were assessed for thyroid dysfunction. Association of thyroid dysfunction with confounding variables was assessed using Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 25.