Hepatitis B Reactivation Following Eradication of HCV with Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs (DAAs) in a Cohort of Patients from Different Institutions in Egypt.

Background: Concerns about HBV reactivation (HBVr) have been raised with the introduction of DAA for HCV treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of HBVr in chronic HCV patients during or after DAA.

Methods: A cohort of 166 chronic HCV patients who were treated with SOF-based DAA regimens and initially positive for HBcAb total were evaluated; 10 HBsAg-positive, 156 had past HBV exposure (HBsAg-negative/HBcAb-positive).

Serum autoantibodies positivity prevalence in patients with chronic HCV and impact on pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment response.

Background & Aims: Prevalence of serum autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients is higher than that in the general population. Interferon may induce autoimmune manifestations in patients treated with peg-interferon and ribavirin. Effect of autoantibody seropositivity and treatment response are limited and controversial.