Open AccessImpact of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir versus sofosbuvir/daclatasvir regimens on the male sexual function of patients with chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Salma Samir Omar,
Walid Ismail Ellakany,
Iman Mohamed Abdelmeniem
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
le infezioni in medicina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2532-8689
pISSN - 1124-9390
DOI - 10.53854/liim-2903-17
Subject(s) - daclatasvir , sofosbuvir , medicine , ledipasvir , gastroenterology , erectile dysfunction , sexual function , liver function , erectile function , urology , chronic hepatitis , ribavirin , virology , virus
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are associated with remarkable efficiency and safety profiles; however, their effect on erectile function remains insufficiently studied. This study included 200 male patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection divided into groups A and B and 100 healthy controls. Group A received sofosbuvir (SOF) 400 mg/ledipasvir 90 mg (Harvoni), whereas group B received SOF 400 mg/ daclatasvir 60 mg for 3 months. The Arabic version of the five-item International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire was used to assess erectile function before and after completion of therapy and 3 months after. Erectile dysfunction (ED) was present in 74.5% of the patients and 14% of the controls. Immediately after treatment, group B (22.5±2.6) had a significantly higher mean IIEF-5 score than did group A (17.3±3.3) (p<0.001). Three months after treatment, all groups had no significant differences in mean IIEF-5 scores (group A: 23.1±1.9, group B: 23.3±1.9, controls: 23.7±2.3); however, free testosterone (FT) levels were significantly higher compared with pre-treatment. Both treatment regimens were associated with the improvement of erectile function and sex hormonal milieu. SOF/daclatasvir was associated with earlier improvement of erectile function compared with SOF/ledipasvir.