title: Direct Acting Antivirals in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C and Down Syndrome.
abstract: Patients with Down syndrome who received blood transfusions, likely in conjunction with cardiothoracic surgery for congenital heart disease and prior to the implementation of blood-donor screening for hepatitis C virus infection, face a substantial risk of acquiring the infection. In the past, interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection in patients with Down syndrome was noted to have lower efficacy and potentially higher risk of adverse effects. Recently, the treatment for chronic hepatitis C has been revolutionized with the introduction of interferon-free direct acting antivirals with favorable safety, tolerability, and efficacy profile. Based on our experiences, the newly approved sofosbuvir-based direct acting antiviral therapy is well tolerated and highly efficacious in this subpopulation of hepatitis C virus infected patients with Down syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0584-6975
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Perumpail
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cholankeril
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Aijaz
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3609-8586
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed