Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) in a Patient with Chronic HCV While on Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy with a Worse Prognosis

Introduction: The world is suffering a major global health pandemic caused by a new strain of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Herein, we encountered one case with COVID-19 and chronic HCV while on Direct Acting Antiviral Therapy.

Case Presentation: A 58-year male patient had chronic hepatitis C (HCV) without liver cirrhosis. He was on Direct - Acting Antiviral Therapy for HCV (DAAs) in the form of Sofosbuvir 400 mg daily and Daclatasvir 60 mg daily (on his third month). The patient developed acute respiratory symptoms suggestive of pneumonia. Oropharyngeal swab for COVID-19 was positive as detected by real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) assay. The treatment for COVID-19 was given according to the Ministry of Health Protocol in addition to oxygen therapy with the continuation of his anti HCV therapy. His symptoms and oxygen saturation progressively deteriorated. The patient died despite supportive measures.

Conclusion: Clinicians should suspect a worse prognosis of COVID-19 in chronic HCV patient despite supportive therapy for COVID -19. The efficacy of Anti HCV therapy as protective or therapy against COVID-19 needs clinical trials.