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INTRODUCTION: The impact of direct antiviral drugs (DAAs) on extrahepatic manifestations in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has been poorly studied.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with CHC and the impact of DAAs on atherosclerotic lesions. Methods A 5-year prospective evaluative study, including patients followed for CHC at hepato-gastroenterology department. The subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasound measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMTc) and the highest IMTc measurements from the left and right side defined the IMTc maximum (IMTc max). IMTc>75th percentile (IMTc75) define subclinical atherosclerosis with high cardiovascular risk. Patients were evaluated before (T0) and one year after DAAs therapy achievement (T1).

RESULTS: At time T0, forty patients (median age: 55 y.; sex ratio M / F = 0.48), were included. Average value of IMTc max was 0.68 ± 0.16 mm. Subclinical atherosclerosis was noted in 82.5 %. At time T1, 28 patients were evaluated, all of whom completed sustained virological response (SVR). Compared to time T0, there was a significant increase in cholesterol (p = 0.001) and triglyceride (p = 0.009) levels. IMTc max was significantly higher at time T1 compared to T0 (0.75 Vs 0.67 mm, p = 0.04). Prevalence of IMTc75 was 82.1% at time T0 and 75% at time T1 (p=0.5).

CONCLUSIONS: SVR, in CHC patients treated with DAA, was associated with worsening of carotid atherosclerotic lesions.