%0 Journal Article %T Detection of Occult Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Egyptian Patients Who Achieved a Sustained Virologic Response to Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents %J Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention %I West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter. %Z 1513-7368 %A Mashaal, Ahmed R %A Abd El‐Hameed, Mohamed %A El Ray, Ahmed A %A Mahmoud Diab, Tarek %A Dawood, Reham M %A Shemis, Mohamed A %A Seyam, Moataz %D 2022 %\ 09/01/2022 %V 23 %N 9 %P 2965-2971 %! Detection of Occult Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Egyptian Patients Who Achieved a Sustained Virologic Response to Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents %K Hepatitis C virus (HCV) %K Occult Hepatitis C Virus Infection (OCI) %K Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) and Direct‐Acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs) %R 10.31557/APJCP.2022.23.9.2965 %X Background: Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (OCI) is diagnosed based on the detection of HCV-RNA in non-serum reservoirs, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and/or hepatocytes with undetectable HCV-RNA in the serum. The current study was designed to shed more light on the presence of occult HCV in a population of cases who achieved an SVR after receiving treatments for HCV-infection and its significance. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 111 chronic HCV patients treated at Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Egypt and achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) 12 -24 weeks after treatment with Direct acting antiviral drugs (DAAs). The treatment lasted 12 or 24 weeks using generic medications including Sofosbuvir (SOF) 400 mg/day and Daclatasvir (DCV) 60 mg/day ± weight-based Ribavirin (RBV) 600-1000 mg/day. After achieving the SVR 12 -24 weeks, all patients were subjected to clinical examination and full laboratory investigations. All the candidates were assessed for fibrosis pre/post-treatment by transient elastography (Fibroscan©). Eighty-seven patients (78.4%) received dual therapy (SOF/DCV) and 24 patients (21.6%) received triple therapy (SOF/DCV/RBV). One hundred and seven patients received the regimen for 12 weeks (96.4%) and only four patients received the regimen for 24 weeks (3.6%). All patients were examined in terms of HCV RNA in plasma and PBMCs. Results: Nine patients (8.1%) were positive for PBMCs HCV RNA. The presence of Occult HCV infection (OCI) was significantly correlated with age, level of AFP, and the degree of liver stiffness. Conclusion: The OCI was present in 8.1% of the patients who achieved an SVR 12 – 24 weeks. These patients were mostly aged and with elevated AFP and advanced fibrosis. Monitoring and follow-up of those patients may help to assess the outcomes. %U https://journal.waocp.org/article_90292_eb915e953c12f6b926ae0bb0775c887a.pdf