Background and Aims: This study aimed to assess the changes in platelet counts of patients with liver cirrhosis due to chronic HCV, who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) after taking direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in a large cohort study in Egypt.

Methods: This multicenter observational retrospective study was carried out on 2500 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients who achieved (SVR) after treatment with direct acting antiviral drugs (DAA). HCV infection was confirmed by positive PCR for HCV RNA infection. SVR was defined as a negative PCR test for HCV-RNA 12 weeks after completion of DAA therapy. Platelets count was measured before therapy, during therapy, at the end of treatment, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatment.

Results: There were 2186 patients enrolled in the study; 1866 (85.4%) were treatment naïve. There were 1006 (46%) males and 1180 (54%) females. Mean age was 50.82± 11.66 years, 2142 (98%.0) patients achieved SVR, 2118 (96.9%) patients had Child -Pugh class A cirrhosis, and 68 (3.1%) had Child -Pugh class B liver cirrhosis. A significant increase in the platelets count was detected at the end of treatment in comparison to the pretreatment levels (P<0.001), and after achieving SVR (P <0.001) when compared to the pretreatment values.

Conclusion: Improvement of platelets count occurs after HCV therapy with DAAS in patients with liver cirrhosis. These results suggested that HCV eradication may have a role in the improvement of platelet count.

背景和目的：本研究旨在评估在埃及进行的一项大型队列研究中，在服用直接作用抗病毒药物 (DAAs) 后获得持续病毒学应答 (SVR) 的慢性 HCV 所致肝硬化患者的血小板计数变化。

方法：这项多中心观察性回顾性研究对 2500 名接受直接作用抗病毒药物 (DAA) 治疗后达到 (SVR) 的慢性丙型肝炎病毒 (HCV) 感染患者进行。HCV 感染通过 HCV RNA 感染的 PCR 阳性证实。SVR 定义为完成 DAA 治疗 12 周后 HCV-RNA 的 PCR 检测阴性。在治疗前、治疗期间、治疗结束时和治疗结束后 12 周测量血小板计数。

结果：本研究共纳入2186例患者；1866 人 (85.4%) 未接受过治疗。有 1006 (46%) 名男性和 1180 (54%) 名女性。平均年龄为 50.82±11.66 岁，2142 (98%.0) 名患者达到 SVR，2118 (96.9%) 名患者患有 Child-Pugh A 级肝硬化，68 (3.1%) 名患者患有 Child-Pugh B 级肝硬化。与治疗前水平相比，治疗结束时检测到血小板计数显着增加 (P<0.001)，并且与治疗前值相比，在达到 SVR 后 (P<0.001)。

结论：肝硬化患者接受 HCV DAAS 治疗后血小板计数有所改善。这些结果表明，HCV 的根除可能在改善血小板计数方面发挥作用。