Background Sixty percent of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients require intestinal resection, and 20% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients undergo proctocolectomy for medically refractory disease. Scarcity of literature about predictors for surgical intervention in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encouraged the conduction of this study to assess risk factors for surgical intervention in IBD patients. Results This cohort study included 80 Egyptian inflammatory bowel disease patients recruited from two medical centers. Patients were classified into two groups, 40 patients each, according to their need for surgical intervention to control inflammatory bowel disease. The two groups were compared regarding age of onset, type and location of disease, smoking, extraintestinal manifestations, perianal disease, granuloma, severity scores, stool calprotectin, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum albumin at diagnosis for Crohn’s disease patients. Twelve ulcerative colitis and 28 Crohn’s disease patients required surgical intervention in the form of total colectomy (30%), fistulectomy (32.5%), resection anastomosis (17.5%) or abscess drainage (20%). Perianal disease, smoking, and disease severity scores showed high significant differences (P value < 0.001); disease type and presence of granuloma showed statistically significant difference (P value < 0.05) between both groups. But, patient age at onset, location of the disease or extraintestinal manifestation had no statistical significance (P value > 0.5). Surgical interventions were more likely to be needed in patients with higher stool calprotectin level, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and lower serum albumin for Crohn’s disease patients (P value < 0.001 for each). Conclusion Smoking, perianal disease, higher severity scores, stool calprotectin, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels are predictors of surgical treatment.

Background and aims Micro-elimination of hepatitis C in renal patients is crucial. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of directly acting antivirals in chronic kidney disease patients and the effect of treatment on kidney functions. Results This prospective cohort study included 77 chronic HCV-infected patients with chronic kidney disease. Patients were consented and treated for 12 weeks with either sofosbuvir and daclatasvir ± ribavirin if glomerular filtration rate was > 30 mL/min per 1.73m2 or ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir-ombitasvir-ribavirin if it was < 30 mL/min per 1.73m2. Patients were divided into two categories (responders versus non-responders). Predictors of response to treatment were statistically analyzed through logistic regression analysis. Sixty-two patients received ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir-ombitasvir-ribavirin, 3 received sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, and 12 received sofosbuvir and daclatasvir plus ribavirin. Most patients were on hemodialysis (n = 36) while 31 were stage 3 kidney disease. All patients completed their treatment course; ribavirin doses were adjusted or stopped in patients who developed anemia (40%). Seventy-two patients (93.5%) achieved sustained virological response 12 weeks following end-of-treatment. Five patients (6.5%) were non-responders, 4 of whom were on hemodialysis (p = 0.179). All non-responders were on ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir-ombitasvir-ribavirin. The mean serum creatinine level at weeks 4 and 8 of treatment demonstrated significant improvement compared to pretreatment values (p < 0.001) in patients on conservative therapy. Conclusion Treatment of chronic kidney disease patients for chronic hepatitis C with directly acting antivirals is safe, efficacious with high response rates and likely to improve renal functions if started early in the course of kidney disease.

Background Cure of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) in HIV/HCV co-infected patients is a priority due to their increased risk of complications. Daclatasvir and sofosbuvir treatment regimens with or without ribavirin are considered an important chance for better HCV treatment in patients with HIV/HCV co-infection. This study aimed at the assessment of safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir-daclatasvir treatment regimens in HIV/HCV co-infected Egyptian patients. Results Thirty HIV/HCV co-infected adult patients were included. All patients completed the study duration without major problems or drug interactions, HCV PCR was negative for all patients at the end of treatment, yet 12 weeks after ending treatment, only one patient (3.33%) had HCV relapse. Liver enzymes showed a significant decrease by the end of treatment and 12 weeks after end of treatment in comparison with their values before treatment (P-value = 0.0001). CD4 counts as well showed significant increase. There was non-significant change in serum albumin, total bilirubin, alfa fetoprotein, complete blood count (CBC), coagulation profile, random blood sugar, or serum creatinine. Ultrasonographic findings did not show significant difference. Conclusion Combination of daclatasvir and sofosbuvir have showed 96.67% sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after treatment (SVR 12) among HIV/HCV co-infected patients, with a good safety profile. Moreover, the treated patients showed a significant increase in CD4 lymphocytic count.

Background The introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents, has revolutionized the treatment for chronic HCV with higher cure rates, shorter duration of treatment and more tolerability have been achieved. Objectives The aim of our study is to estimate the efficacy and safety of DAAs in treatment of chronic HCV in patients co-infected with HIV. Patients and Methods This study of previously untreated patients with HCV and HIV co- infection conducted at Abbasia Fever Hospital, from July 2019 to February 2020. Patients included those who are chronic HCV infection and receiving antiretroviral therapy with a CD4 T-lymphocyte count of 200 cells/mL or greater. Serial measurements of safety parameters, virologic and host immune correlates, and adherence were performed during treatment by combination of daclatasvir 90mg and sofosbuvir 400mg+/- ribavirin 800mg daily for 12 weeks. Results In this study, AST & ALT were significantly decreased at end of treatment and 12 weeks after treatment, CD4 count was significantly increased. Otherwise there are no significant changes in both hematological and biochemical laboratory results. The demographic features of the patients and HIV disease characteristics were not predictors of HCV treatment failure. Conclusion More studies on larger numbers of patients are required for proper evaluation of the safety and efficacy of direct acting antiviral agents generally and sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir combination particularly in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. Longer follow-up studies are still recommended to fully understand the impact of sustained virological response on dynamics of liver fibrosis, biochemical profile and rate of relapse.

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