Improvement of hyperuricemia in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving directly acting antiviral agents

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Mar;35(3):473-481. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14835. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Abstract

Background and aim: Hepatitis C virus eradication via the use of antivirals ameliorates metabolic profiles. The changes in serum uric acid (SUA) levels in chronic hepatitis C patients who receive antivirals are not well understood. We aimed to address this issue by comparing the SUA changes before and after the achievement of a sustained virological response (which is defined as hepatitis C virus RNA seronegativity at 12 weeks after the end of treatment).

Methods: Two hundred and thirteen sustained virological response patients who were treated by directly acting antivirals were consecutively enrolled. Pretreatment and post-treatment SUA levels were compared. Hyperuricemia was defined as a uric acid level > 7.0 mg/dL in men and > 6.0 mg/dL in women.

Results: The SUA levels significantly decreased after treatment, as compared to the pretreatment levels (5.6 ± 1.5 vs 6.0 ± 1.7 mg/dL, respectively; P < 0.001). The proportion of hyperuricemia incidences significantly decreased after treatment (25.8% vs 35.7%, respectively; P = 0.001). The improvement was only observed in patients with a fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) < 6.5 (25.7% vs 37.1%, P = 0.001) but not in those patients with a FIB-4 ≧ 6.5 (26.3% vs 28.9%, P = 1.00). A multivariate analysis revealed that the factor that was associated with significantly decreased SUA levels was FIB-4 < 6.5 (odds ratio [OR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.22/1.04-9.95, P = 0.04) and estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR/CI: 4.34/1.94-9.73, P < 0.001). There existed a trend of a higher proportion of patients with significant SUA improvement along with the decrement of FIB-4 (29.7%, 25%, and 10.5% in patients with FIB-4 < 3.25, 3.25-6.5, and > 6.5, respectively; trend P = 0.03).

Conclusions: SUA levels were significantly decreased in chronic hepatitis C patients after viral eradication. The improvement was particularly enhanced in patients with mild liver disease.

Keywords: CHC; DAA; FIB-4; hyperuricemia; liver fibrosis.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hyperuricemia / blood
  • Hyperuricemia / drug therapy*
  • Hyperuricemia / etiology*
  • Liver Cirrhosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uric Acid / blood

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Uric Acid