The Efficacy of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Multicenter Real-Life Data

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the real-life efficacy and safety of glecaprevir / pibrentasvir in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, as well as to identify the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the follow-up and treatment of patients. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively with the participation of researchers from universities or training and research hospitals. It included patients with chronic hepatitis C who were over 18 years of age, treatment-naïve or treatment-experienced, had detectable HCV RNA and were receiving glecaprevir/pibrentasvir treatment Results: Only 188 of the 385 patients who participated in the study came to the follow-up visit 12 weeks after treatment, and all of them had a sustained virological response. It was thought that a significant portion of the 177 patients who did not come to the follow-up visit at 12 weeks after treatment refrained from coming to the hospital due to the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the patients who attended the follow-up visits required treatment discontinuation due to adverse events. Conclusion: Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is a highly effective and relatively safe drug in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the follow-up and treatment processes of patients. New measures are needed for the follow-up and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C during pandemics.