Z Gastroenterol 2019; 57(09): e276-e277
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1695343
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Hepatitis C: Donnerstag, 03. Oktober 2019, 08:00 – 09:36, Studio Terrasse 2.1 B
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Weight gain after interferon-free clearance of chronic hepatitis C – Results from the German Hepatitis C-Registry (DHC-R)

B Schlevogt
1   Universitätsklinikum Münster, Medizinische Klinik B für Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Münster, Deutschland
,
K Böker
2   Hepatologische Praxis, Hannover, Deutschland
,
S Mauss
3   Center for HIV and Hepatogastroenterology, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
,
H Klinker
4   Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Deutschland
,
R Heyne
5   Leberzentrum am Checkpoint, Berlin, Deutschland
,
R Link
6   MVZ-Offenburg GmbH/St. Josefs-Klinik, Offenburg, Deutschland
,
KG Simon
7   MVZ Dres. Eisenbach, Simon, Schwarz GbR, Leverkusen, Deutschland
,
C Sarrazin
8   St. Josefs-Hospital, Wiesbaden, Deutschland
9   Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland
,
MP Manns
10   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland
,
H Wedemeyer
10   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland
11   Leberstiftungs-GmbH Deutschland, Hannover, Deutschland
12   Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland
,
D Hepatitis CRegister
11   Leberstiftungs-GmbH Deutschland, Hannover, Deutschland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
13 August 2019 (online)

 

Background and aims:

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection can be associated with a variety of extrahepatic manifestations including metabolic alterations. Few single center studies reported substantial weight gain during and after interferon-free treatment of chronic hepatitis C which has been considered as a potential concern. The aim of this study was to investigate short- and long-term weight changes of patients followed in a large, real-world multicenter cohort.

Method:

The DHC-R (German Hepatitis C-Registry) is a national multicenter real-world cohort including about 15,500 patients recruited by more than 250 centers. Patients are treated at the discretion of the physician. Data quality is analyzed by plausibility checks and on site monitoring. This analysis is based on 5,111 patients who were documented until July 15th 2018 and who were observed for up to 3 years after end of antiviral treatment.

Results:

At the end of antiviral treatment the proportion of patients with weight gain of at least 1 kilogram was 21.1% which constantly increased to 47.8% at 3 years after DAA treatment (Fig. 1). Mean weight change compared to baseline was -0.2 kg (SD 4.3) at end of treatment whereas weight increased significantly to 1.6 kg (SD 6.6) and 1.7 kg (SD 8.0) at follow-up year 2 and 3. Multivariate regression analysis at FU2 revealed body mass index and sex as significant predictors of weight change. Patients with BMI <= 30 had a mean weight gain of 1.9 kg whereas patients with BMI > 30 showed no significant weight changes (0.1 kg). Male patients had a mean weight gain of 1.9 kg which was higher than observed in female patients (1.1 kg, p = 0.014).

Zoom Image
Fig. 1: Weight change after interferon-free antiviral HCV treatment

Conclusion:

DAA treatment is followed by a substantial weight gain in almost half of the patients during long-term follow-up. Male patients were particularly vulnerable to weight gain. However, obese patients did not further gain weight which possibly could be explained by improved metabolic situation after HCV cure.