Curing hepatitis C virus (HCV) reduces central fatigue, which is weakness originating in the central nervous system rather than in the muscles (known as peripheral or physical fatigue), aidsmap reports. Results from a study of those treated with Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) were presented at the 49th annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in London.

The researchers looked at differences in fatigue levels before and after treatment with either a combination of Sovaldi plus pegylated interferon and ribavirin in the NEUTRINO trial, which included genotypes 1, 4, 5 and 6, or a combination of just Sovaldi and ribavirin in the FUISION trial, which included genotypes 2 and 3.

The investigators’ analysis included data on 423 participants who achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure). At the beginning of the study, 12 percent of the participants reported fatigue.

Responding to three questionnaires, the participants reported an average 26.9 percent improvement in the SF-36 vitality scale, 19.8 percent on the FACIT-F fatigue scale and 10.7 percent on CLDQ-HCV activity-energy domain. Every element of the questionnaires related to central fatigue showed improvement, while just two points in connection to peripheral fatigue improved.

The percentage of participants who scored below the average questionnaire levels of the general population dropped from 32.7 percent to 27 percent on the SF-36 vitality scale, from 43.4 percent to 34.6 percent on the FACIT-F fatigue scale and from 47.9 percent to 35.4 percent on the CLDQ-HCV activity energy domain.

To read the aidsmap story, click here.

To see the conference presentation, click here.