Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Oral Biology

Background: Hepatitis C virus is a main cause for liver disease all over the world. For treatment of hepatitis C virus, FDA approved a new direct antiviral drug, a nucleoside analogue, called sofosbuvir (Trade name is sovaldi). This drug is capable of inhibiting viral NS5B protein. Sovaldi has manifested many side effects like colitis, oral ulcers, headache, nausea and vomiting, but the most common side effect is fatigue. Aim :This study aimed to assess the side effects of sofosbuvir on masseter muscles in albino rats. It was evaluated histologically and by measuring calcium level. Materials and methods: Forty two rats were divided into three groups, fourteen rats each. Group I: a control group, kept on normal diet. Group II and III: Sovaldi was administered 40 mg/kg/day for 30 days and 60 days respectively. At the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed, masseter muscles were stained with hematoxylin and Eosin stain and calcium level was checked. Results: Sovaldi administration for 30 days caused muscle fiber clumping, hyaline degeneration and elevation in intracellular calcium level in masseter muscles. However, prolonged sovaldi administration (for 60 days) caused adaptive response of the tissue to the drug. Conclusions: Sovaldi administration caused structural changes in masseter muscle fibers that could be the cause of fatigue associated with sovaldi treatment based regimens

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