title: Initial results of efficacy and safety of Sofosbuvir among Pakistani Population: A real life trial - Hepatitis Eradication Accuracy Trial of Sofosbuvir (HEATS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The uridine nucleotide analogue sofosbuvir is a selective inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase approved for the treatment of chronic HCV infection with genotypes 1 - 4. The objective of the study was to evaluate the interim results of efficacy and safety of regimens containing Sofosbuvir (Zoval) among Pakistani population with the rapid virologic response (RVR2/4 weeks) with HCV infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multicenter open label prospective observational study. Patients suffering from chronic Hepatitis C infection received Sofosbuvir (Zoval) 400 mg plus ribavirin (with or without peg interferon) for 12/24 weeks. The interim results of this study were rapid virological response on week 4. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 for descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 573 patients with HCV infection were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 46.07 ± 11.41 years. Out of 573 patients 535 (93.3%) were treatment naive, 26 (4.5%) were relapser, 7 (1.2%) were non-responders and 5 (1.0%) were partial responders. A rapid virologic response was reported in 563(98.2%) of patients with HCV infection after four weeks of treatment. The treatment was generally well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sofosbuvir (Zoval) is effective and well tolerated in combination with ribavirin in HCV infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Zahid Azam, FCPS (Gastro); FCPS (Med); M.Sc (Clinical Research). Professor of Medicine & Gastroenterology, Gastroinstinal and Liver Practice (GILP) and Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zahid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Azam
authors.affiliation: Dr. Muhammad Shoaib, FCPS (Gastroenterology). Consultant Gastroenterologist, Memom Medical Institute Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoaib
authors.affiliation: Dr. Masood Javed, FCPS, Associate Professor, Punjab Medical Collage Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.affiliation: Dr. Muhammad Adnan Sarwar, FCPS(Medicine), Senior Registrar DHQ Hospital Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Adnan
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sarwar
authors.affiliation: Dr. Hafeezullah Shaikh, FCPS (Gastroenterology). Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology, National Institute of liver & GI Diseases (NILGID), Dow University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hafeezullah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Nasir Khokhar, MD, FACG. Professor of Medicine, Shifa International Hospital and Shifa Tameer e Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khokhar
keywords: HCV infection; Rapid virologic response (RVR); Sofosbuvir