Assessment of erectile function and sexual hormones in chronic hepatitis C-infected patients treated with direct-acting antiviral agents

Objective To assess the erectile function, serum total testosterone, and serum prolactin levels in naive chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients before and after administration of direct-acting antiviral agents (sofosbuvir with daclatasvir). Design A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients and methods A total of 50 married patients less than 60 years old with regular marital life having naive chronic HCV infection for a minimum of 1 year confirmed by positive serum HCV RNA by PCR who were going to receive 'sofosbuvir and daclatasvir' regimen for 3 months were included in the study. Intervention(s) Serum total testosterone and serum prolactin levels before and after the treatment course were assessed. Main outcome measure(s) The abridged form of International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-5) – Arabic version was fulfilled by the patients before starting the treatment course and 6 months afterward. Result(s) Before starting the treatment course, 28% of the study population complained of erectile dysfunction (IIEF-5 score ≤21). After the treatment course, the total IIEF-5 score was statistically significantly higher and the serum levels of total testosterone and prolactin hormones were statistically significantly lower than their levels before starting the treatment course. Conclusion(s) Direct-acting antiviral agents (sofosbuvir and daclatasvir) have demonstrated tolerability and safety regarding the erectile function; furthermore, there was significant improvement in the erectile function after the end of the treatment course.