Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with hepatic and adipose tissue insulin resistance that improves after viral cure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with systemic insulin resistance, yet there are limited data on the tissue-specific contribution in vivo to this adverse metabolic phenotype, and the effect of HCV cure. METHODS: We examined tissue-specific insulin sensitivity in a cohort study involving 13 patients with CHC compared to 12 BMI-matched healthy control subjects. All subjects underwent a two-step clamp incorporating the use of stable isotopes to measure carbohydrate and lipid flux (hepatic and global insulin sensitivity) with concomitant subcutaneous adipose tissue microdialysis and biopsy (subcutaneous adipose tissue insulin sensitivity). Investigations were repeated in seven patients with CHC following antiviral therapy with a documented sustained virological response. RESULTS: Adipose tissue was more insulin resistant in patients with CHC compared to healthy controls, as evidence by elevated glycerol production rate and impaired insulin-mediated suppression of both circulating nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and adipose interstitial fluid glycerol release during the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp. Hepatic and muscle insulin sensitivity were similar between patients with CHC and controls. Following viral eradication, hepatic insulin sensitivity improved as demonstrated by a reduction in endogenous glucose production rate. In addition, circulating NEFA decreased with sustained virological response (SVR) and insulin was more effective at suppressing adipose tissue interstitial glycerol release with a parallel increase in the expression of insulin signalling cascade genes in adipose tissue consistent with enhanced adipose tissue insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Chronic hepatitis C patients have profound subcutaneous adipose tissue insulin resistance in comparison with BMI-matched controls. For the first time, we have demonstrated that viral eradication improves global, hepatic and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity.

Elbasvir/grazoprevir and sofosbuvir for hepatitis C virus genotype 3 infection with compensated cirrhosis: A randomized trial.

Many direct-acting antiviral regimens have reduced activity in people with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 3 infection and cirrhosis. The C-ISLE study assessed the efficacy and safety of elbasvir/grazoprevir (EBR/GZR) plus sofosbuvir (SOF) with and without ribavirin (RBV) in compensated cirrhotic participants with GT3 infection. This was a phase 2, randomized, open-label study. Treatment-naive participants received EBR/GZR + SOF + RBV for 8 weeks or EBR/GZR + SOF for 12 weeks, and peginterferon/RBV treatment-experienced participants received EBR/GZR + SOF ± RBV for 12 weeks or EBR/GZR + SOF for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint was HCV RNA <15 IU/mL 12 weeks after the end of treatment (sustained virologic response at 12 weeks [SVR12]). Among treatment-naive participants, SVR12 was 91% (21/23) in those treated with RBV for 8 weeks and 96% (23/24) in those treated for 12 weeks. Among treatment-experienced participants, SVR12 was 94% (17/18) and 100% (17/17) in the 12-week arm, with and without RBV, respectively, and 94% (17/18) in the 16-week arm. Five participants failed to achieve SVR: 2 relapsed (both in the 8-week arm), 1 discontinued due to vomiting/cellulitis (16-week arm), and 2 discontinued (consent withdrawn/lost to follow-up). SVR12 was not affected by the presence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs). There was no consistent change in insulin resistance, and 5 participants reported serious adverse events (pneumonia, chest pain, opiate overdose, cellulitis, decreased creatinine). High efficacy was demonstrated in participants with HCV GT3 infection and cirrhosis. Treatment beyond 12 weeks was not required, and efficacy was maintained regardless of baseline RASs. CONCLUSION: Data from this study support the use of EBR/GZR plus SOF for 12 weeks without RBV for treatment-naive and peginterferon/RBV-experienced people with GT3 infection and cirrhosis (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02601573). (Hepatology 2018;67:2113-2126).

Outcomes after successful direct-acting antiviral therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C and decompensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Direct-acting antivirals have become widely used for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection with decompensated cirrhosis. Virological responses are excellent and early improvements in liver function, at least in a proportion of patients, have been observed but the longer term impact of viral clearance on end-stage liver disease complications is unclear. METHODS: Prospective study of patients with decompensated cirrhosis who received 12weeks of all-oral direct-acting antivirals through the English Expanded Access Programme. Endpoints were deaths, liver transplantation, hepatocellular carcinoma, serious decompensation events, sepsis or hospitalisations, and MELD scores between start of therapy to 15months post-treatment start. An untreated cohort of patients was retrospectively studied over 6months for comparison. RESULTS: Amongst 317/406 patients who achieved sustained virological response at 24weeks post-treatment, there were 9 deaths (3%), 17 new liver cancers (5%), 39 transplantations (12%) and 52 with serious decompensations (16%), over 15months. When compared to the first six months from treatment start and to untreated patients, there was a reduction in incidence of decompensations [30/406 (7%) in months 6-15 and 72/406 (18%) in months 0-6 for treated patients vs. 73/261 (28%) in untreated patients]. There was no significant difference in liver cancer incidence (10/406 (2.5%) in months 6-15 and 17/406 (4%) in months 0-6 for treated patients vs. 11/261 (4%) in untreated patients). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that antiviral therapy in patients with decompensated cirrhosis led to prolonged improvement in liver function, with no evidence of paradoxical adverse impact nor increase in liver malignancy. LAY SUMMARY: This is a report of a large group of patients in England who have hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with advanced liver disease. They have been treated with new anti-HCV drugs, which cured the infection in the majority. This study looks at their outcomes a year following treatment, in terms of deaths, cancers and other complications of advanced liver disease. We conclude that in most patients anti-HCV treatment is beneficial even in advanced liver disease.

Impact of direct acting antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C and decompensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: All oral direct acting antivirals (DAAs) effectively treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but the benefits in advanced liver disease are unclear. We compared outcomes in treated and untreated patients with decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS: Patients with HCV and decompensated cirrhosis or at risk of irreversible disease were treated in an expanded access programme (EAP) in 2014. Treatment, by clinician choice, was with sofosbuvir, ledipasvir or daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin. For functional outcome comparison, untreated patients with HCV and decompensated cirrhosis who were registered on a database 6months before treatment was available were retrospectively studied. Primary endpoint was sustained virological response 12weeks post antiviral treatment (treated cohort) and the secondary endpoint (both cohorts) was adverse outcomes (worsening in MELD score or serious adverse event) within 6months. RESULTS: 467 patients received treatment (409 decompensated cirrhosis). Viral clearance was achieved in 381 patients (81.6%) - 209 from 231 (90.5%) with genotype 1 and 132 from 192 (68.8%) with genotype 3. MELD scores improved in treated patients (mean change -0.85) but worsened in untreated patients (mean+0.75) (p<0.0001). Patients with initial serum albumin <35g/L, aged >65 or with low (<135mmol/L) baseline serum sodium concentrations were least likely to benefit from therapy. CONCLUSIONS: All oral DAAs effectively cured HCV in patients with advanced liver disease. Viral clearance was associated with improvement in liver function within 6months compared to untreated patients. The longer term impact of HCV treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis remains to be determined.

Effect of scavenger receptor class B type I antagonist ITX5061 in patients with hepatitis C virus infection undergoing liver transplantation.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry inhibitors have been hypothesized to prevent infection of the liver after transplantation. ITX5061 is a scavenger receptor class B type I antagonist that blocks HCV entry and infection in vitro. We assessed the safety and efficacy of ITX5061 to limit HCV infection of the graft. The study included 23 HCV-infected patients undergoing liver transplantation. The first 13 "control" patients did not receive drug. The subsequent 10 patients received 150 mg of ITX5061 immediately before and after transplant and daily for 1 week thereafter. ITX5061 pharmacokinetics and plasma HCV RNA were quantified. Viral genetic diversity was measured by ultradeep pyrosequencing (UDPS). ITX5061 was well tolerated with measurable plasma concentrations during therapy. Although the median HCV RNA reduction was greater in ITX-treated patients at all time points in the first week after transplantation, there was no difference in the overall change in the area over the HCV RNA curve in the 7-day treatment period. However, in genotype (GT) 1-infected patients, treatment was associated with a sustained reduction in HCV RNA levels compared to the control group (area over the HCV RNA curve analysis, P = 0.004). UDPS revealed a complex and evolving pattern of HCV variants infecting the graft during the first week. ITX5061 significantly limited viral evolution where the median divergence between day 0 and day 7 was 3.5% in the control group compared to 0.1% in the treated group. In conclusion, ITX5061 reduces plasma HCV RNA after transplant notably in GT 1-infected patients and slows viral evolution. Following liver transplantation, the likely contribution of extrahepatic reservoirs of HCV necessitates combining entry inhibitors such as ITX5061 with inhibitors of replication in future studies.

Virological response to entecavir is associated with a better clinical outcome in chronic hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: Entecavir (ETV) is a potent inhibitor of viral replication in chronic hepatitis B and prolonged treatment may result in regression of fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ETV on disease progression. DESIGN: In a multicentre cohort study, 372 ETV-treated patients were investigated. Clinical events were defined as development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic decompensation or death. Virological response (VR) was defined as HBV DNA <80 IU/ml. RESULTS: Patients were classified as having chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis (n=274), compensated cirrhosis (n=89) and decompensated cirrhosis (n=9). The probability of VR was not influenced by severity of liver disease (p=0.62). During a median follow-up of 20 months (IQR 11-32), the probability of developing clinical events was higher for patients with cirrhosis (HR 15.41 (95% CI 3.42 to 69.54), p<0.001). VR was associated with a lower probability of disease progression (HR 0.29 (95% CI 0.08 to 1.00), p=0.05) which remained after correction for established risk factors such as age. The benefit of VR was only significant in patients with cirrhosis (HR 0.22 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.99), p=0.04) and remained after excluding decompensated patients (HR 0.15 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.81), p=0.03). A higher HBV DNA threshold of 2000 IU/ml was not associated with the probability of disease progression (HR 0.20 (95% CI 0.03 to 1.10), p=0.10). CONCLUSION: VR to ETV is associated with a lower probability of disease progression in patients with cirrhosis, even after correction for possible baseline confounders. When using a threshold of 2000 IU/ml, the association between viral replication and disease progression was reduced, suggesting that complete viral suppression is essential for nucleoside/nucleotide analogue treatment, especially in patients with cirrhosis.

Intercurrent infection predicts mortality in patients with late hepatic artery thrombosis listed for liver retransplantation.

Liver retransplantation for late hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is considered the treatment of choice for select patients. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of data to aid decision making in this setting. The aims of this single-center study of patients listed for late HAT were (1) to determine variables associated with wait-list mortality, (2) to describe survival after retransplantation, and (3) to determine variables associated with mortality after retransplantation. Seventy-eight patients were diagnosed with late HAT (incidence = 3.9%). Of the 49 patients listed for retransplantation, 9 died on the waiting list and 36 were retransplanted. The estimated 1-year survival after listing for retransplantation was 53.7%. Only multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria-positive cultures were predictive of wait-list mortality (P = 0.01). After retransplantation, the estimated 1- and 5-year patient survival was 71.9% and 62.5%, respectively. Increasing Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (overall P = 0.007), MDR bacteria-positive cultures (P = 0.047), and continued antibiotic therapy (P = 0.001) at the time of retransplantation were risk factors for post retransplant death. In conclusion, patients who undergo liver retransplantation for late HAT have satisfactory outcomes. However, the presence of active infection and MDR bacteria-positive cultures should be taken into account when risk stratifying such patients.

Management of HBV- and HCV-induced end stage liver disease.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are important causes of end-stage liver disease and primary liver cancer. Successful antiviral treatment prior to the development of cirrhosis will prevent most of the morbidity and mortality associated with those infections. This can be achieved for a high proportion of patients. However, many patients present with end-stage liver disease and ongoing and clinically significant viral replication. Antiviral treatment of HBV can effect recovery of liver function and restores many patients to a state of well compensated cirrhosis. The antiviral treatment of end-stage HCV poses much greater challenges. Interferon remains an essential element of HCV antiviral treatment, but has reduced efficacy and significant toxicity at this stage of cirrhosis. Though yet to be evaluated in the setting of advanced liver disease, the development of direct acting antivirals for HCV offers hope for improved outcomes at this stage of cirrhosis.

Hepatitis A virus vaccination in persons with hepatitis C virus infection: consequences of quality measure implementation.

UNLABELLED: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) superinfection in persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with a high mortality rate, and vaccination is recommended. The incidence of HAV is low, and the aim of this study was to determine the mortality risk of HAV superinfection and the consequences of routine vaccination in persons with HCV infection. To determine the mortality risk of HAV superinfection, a meta-analysis including studies reporting mortality in HCV-infected persons was performed. Data were extracted independently by two investigators and recorded on a standardized spreadsheet. The pooled mortality estimate was used to determine the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent mortality from HAV superinfection. The total vaccine cost was also calculated. A total of 239 studies were identified using a defined search strategy. Of these, 11 appeared to be relevant, and of these, 10 were suitable for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for mortality risk in HAV superinfection of HCV-infected persons was 7.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.24-42.12) with significant heterogeneity (I(2) = 56%; P = 0.03) between studies. Using the pooled OR for mortality, this translates to 1.4 deaths per 1,000,000 susceptible persons with HCV per year. The NNV to prevent one death per year is therefore 814,849, assuming 90% vaccine uptake and 94.3% vaccine efficiency. The vaccine cost for this totals $162 million, or $80.1 million per death prevented per year. CONCLUSION: These data challenge the use of routine HAV vaccination in HCV-infected persons and its incorporation into clinical practice guidelines. HAV vaccination of all HCV-infected persons is costly and likely to expose many individuals to an intervention that is of no direct benefit.

Renal function in patients undergoing transplantation for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis: time to reconsider immunosuppression regimens?

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney injury (CKI), yet the impact of liver transplantation (LT) on renal function in this at-risk group is not known. We compared the post-LT renal function of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and a matched comparison group. Forty-eight consecutive patients who underwent transplantation for NASH between 2000 and 2008 in a single UK center were compared to non-NASH patients who were matched by age, sex, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; calculated with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula). In comparison with non-NASH patients, NASH patients had a significantly lower eGFR 3 months after LT (eGFR difference = 8.85 mL/minute/1.73 m(2), 95% confidence interval = 2.93-14.77). After adjustments for the effects of the body mass index, tacrolimus levels, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma, the difference between the groups remained significant 3 months after LT (P = 0.001). These data were then analyzed at numerous time points after LT (6, 12, and 24 months), and the time did not significantly affect the difference between the groups (P = 0.17). Within 2 years, 31.2% of the NASH patients (15/48) had developed stage IIIb CKI, whereas only 8.3% of the non-NASH patients (4/48) did (P = 0.009). In conclusion, this study has identified NASH as an independent risk factor for renal dysfunction after LT. Renal-sparing immunosuppression regimens should be considered at the time of LT to reduce the development of kidney injury in NASH patients. The optimization of such regimens requires a prospective study.

Outcomes of liver transplantation for paracetamol (acetaminophen)-induced hepatic failure.

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) hepatotoxicity, whether due to intentional overdose or therapeutic misadventure, is an indication for liver transplantation in selected cases. However, there is a concern that long-term outcomes may be compromised by associated psychopathology that may predispose patients to further episodes of self-harm or poor treatment adherence. We therefore undertook a retrospective analysis of patients transplanted for paracetamol-induced fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) to determine their long-term outcomes, psychiatric problems, and compliance and whether these issues could be predicted from pretransplant information. Records from patients undergoing liver transplantation for paracetamol-associated liver failure in this unit and 2 comparison groups (patients undergoing liver replacement for FHF from other causes and for chronic liver diseases) were examined. Of 60 patients transplanted for paracetamol-induced FHF between 1989 and 2007, 44 (73%) survived to discharge. Currently, 35 patients (58%) are surviving at an average of 9 years post-transplantation. The incidence of psychiatric disease (principally depression) and 30-day mortality were greatest in the paracetamol group, but for those who survived 30 days, there was no difference in long-term survival rates between the groups. Adherence to follow-up appointments and compliance with immunosuppression were lowest in the paracetamol overdose group. Poor adherence was not predicted by any identifiable premorbid psychiatric conditions. Two patients grafted for paracetamol FHF died from self-harm (1 from suicide and 1 from alcoholic liver disease after 5 years). This study suggests that, notwithstanding the shortage of donor liver grafts, transplantation is an appropriate therapy in selected patients, although close follow-up is indicated.

Viral persistence after liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Prophylaxis to prevent recurrent HBV infection in liver transplant (LT) recipients has evolved over time, and we manage patients who receive lamivudine monoprophylaxis, lamivudine with HBV immunoglobulin (HBIg), and lamivudine and adefovir with HBIg. METHODS: Serum was examined with sensitive assays to detect the persistence of HBV, and to identify mutations that might confer resistance to the antiviral prophylaxis. Forty patients were studied, and sera were collected 20 days to 13.3 years after LT. RESULTS: Overall, HBV DNA was detected in serum of 67.5% of patients (8 of 10 of lamivudine monoprophylaxis patients, 15 of 24 of those receiving lamivudine and HBIg, and 4 of 6 of those receiving lamivudine, adefovir and HBIg). Thus, HBV infection persists for most of the patients despite successful prophylaxis after LT. Of those patients with detectable serum HBV DNA, three of eight of the lamivudine monoprophylaxis group had sequences associated with resistance to lamivudine (YMDD mutants), compared with only 1 of 15 of the lamivudine and HBIg cohort. Three of the lamivudine and HBIg cohort had the I126A Hepatitis B surface antigen escape variant. In those serum HBV DNA-positive patients who were receiving lamivudine, adefovir, and HBIg, only one of four had YMDD mutant, and none had Hepatitis B surface antigen escape variants. None of the 40 patients suffered clinical HBV recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations imply that the selection of resistant virus may be essential, but is not sufficient to cause overt failure of prophylaxis with development of clinical disease. It seems likely that the patients' immune response contributes, at least partially, to the long-term control of infection in these patients.

Impact of donor age and year of transplantation on graft and patient survival following liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become the most common indication for liver transplantation (LT). Graft and patient survival are adversely affected by recurrent infection of the graft. Recent publications have described an inferior outcome for recently transplanted HCV patients and have highlighted the impact of advancing donor age on severity of recurrent HCV. The donor age at which a measurable impact on graft and patient outcome can be observed has not clearly been defined. In addition, the impact of donor age on graft and patient survival for non-HCV patients needs to be examined. METHODS: We have examined a large European liver transplant database to define the impact of transplantation date and donor age on graft and patient survival for HCV patients (n = 4,736) and the impact for a comparison group of transplanted alcoholic liver disease patients (ALD, n = 5,406). RESULTS: For the entire cohorts, graft and patient survival of HCV patients was inferior to ALD patients. Since 1987, there has been a steady and ongoing improvement in the outcome of transplanted ALD patients, an improvement not observed for HCV patients. Every year since 1989, there has been an increase in liver donor age. Graft and patient survival for both ALD and HCV cohorts was adversely affected by advancing donor age. Comparison of graft and patient survival for HCV and ALD cohorts was made according to donor age (donor age subgrouped <20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60 and >60 years of age). For donors younger than 40 years of age, HCV and ALD recipient graft and patient survival are not significantly different. For donors older than 40, HCV recipient graft survival is inferior to ALD graft survival, an inferiority that increases for each advancing decade of donor age. For donors older than 50 years, HCV recipient patient survival is inferior to ALD patient survival, an inferiority that increases when the donor age is greater than 60 years. CONCLUSION: The results of liver transplantation for European HCV patients is inferior to a comparison group of ALD patients, and have not improved during the past 15 years. Liver donor age has increased significantly during that period. Advancing donor age has an adverse influence on graft and patient survival for ALD and HCV patients, but a significantly greater impact is observed for HCV patients when the donor is older than 40 years.

Outcomes following liver transplantation for seronegative acute liver failure: experience during a 12-year period with more than 100 patients.

Seronegative hepatitis is a common cause of acute liver failure (ALF) requiring liver transplantation. The primary aim of this study was to examine outcomes following transplantation in this group and to identify factors associated with early (<2 months) mortality. Patients studied were 110 consecutive cases of seronegative ALF transplanted at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, between January 1992 and January 2004. Univariate analysis of 44 pretransplantation recipient, donor, and operative variables was performed initially to identify factors associated with early posttransplantation mortality. Variables identified as significant or approaching significance were analyzed using stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis. Survival following transplantation for seronegative hepatitis was 83%, 81%, and 73% at 2, 12, and 60 months, respectively. The majority (71%) of deaths occurred within the 1st 2 months and sepsis / multiorgan dysfunction was the most common cause of early death. Univariate analysis revealed 9 variables predicting early death. Subsequent multivariate analysis identified high donor body mass index (BMI; a possible surrogate marker for hepatic steatosis) as the most important predictor of early death (P = .009; odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.3). Recipient age >50 (P = .015; odds ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-14.1) and non-Caucasian recipient ethnicity (P = .015; odds ratio, 4.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-19.2) were other variables associated with early death on multivariate analysis. This study specifically examined factors that determine the early outcome of transplanted seronegative ALF patients. In conclusion, we found that donor and recipient factors identify patients who have a high chance of early death after transplantation.

Hepatitis B and C virus infections in the immune compromised.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review compares and contrasts the natural history and treatment of hepatitis B and C virus infections in three principal populations of immune compromised individuals: (1) patients co-infected with HIV; (2) patients with liver failure secondary to hepatitis B or C virus infection who undergo liver transplantation, and (3) patients with hepatitis B or C virus infection who undergo anticancer chemotherapy. RECENT FINDINGS: Chronic liver disease resulting from hepatitis B or C virus infection progresses more rapidly in patients co-infected with HIV than in HIV negative patients. Treatment protocols for antiviral therapy are, however, similar to those used in immunocompetent individuals and although few long-term results are available, the efficacy of interferon and ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C virus/HIV infection and lamivudine in HIV/hepatitis B virus infection has been proven in the short-term. Perhaps the most important consideration is the timing of administering treatments to co-infected patients. For patients with well preserved CD4 counts and hepatitis C virus/HIV co-infection, the hepatitis infection should be treated as early as possible to avoid drug interactions of hepatitis C virus antivirals with antiretroviral therapy. Also, response to hepatitis C virus treatment appears better when treatment is administered in the context of preserved immune function. Conversely, in hepatitis B virus/HIV co-infection, hepatitis B virus antivirals are best administered with anti-retroviral therapy, thus preventing the selection of HIV viral species which may be resistant to the drugs used for hepatitis B virus. Improved graft and patient survival after liver transplant and with anticancer chemotherapy in hepatitis B virus infected patients has been proven using lamivudine prophylaxis. However, although therapy for hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation would seem rational, limited success with current treatment protocols has been achieved. SUMMARY: Although the prognosis of hepatitis B and C virus infections in the immune compromised may be inferior to that of immunocompetent individuals, such patients should have full evaluation of their viral hepatitis, and antiviral therapy should be considered.

Outcome of liver transplantation for patients infected by hepatitis C, including those infected by genotype 4.

Predictors of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease posttransplantation are still unclear. The impact of HCV genotype on outcome of transplantation has been studied, but conclusions are not in agreement. The role of HCV genotype 4 on the result of liver transplantation requires further study. The aim of this study is to examine the outcome of liver transplantation for patients with HCV genotype-4 infection. The study group included 128 patients who underwent transplantation for HCV infection: 28 patients, genotype 1; 11 patients, genotype 2; 19 patients, genotype 3; and 32 patients, genotype 4. For 64 of 128 patients, genotype was known and an assessable histological specimen was available. Median interval from transplantation to biopsy was 1.92 years (range, 0.24 to 11.48 years). Twenty-six percent of HCV genotype-4 patients developed either severe fibrosis or cirrhosis versus 6.7% in the genotype non-4 group (P =.04). A statistically significant greater fibrosis progression rate was observed in genotype-4 than genotype non-4 patients. In univariate and multivariate analysis, rapid liver fibrosis was associated with the presence of HCV genotype-4 infection. In addition, donor and recipient age and graft warm ischemic time also were associated with rate of fibrosis progression. Five-year cumulative rates for the development of cirrhosis or severe liver fibrosis were 84% in genotype-4 and 24% in genotype non-4 patients (P =.02). Five-year survival rates for patients with genotypes 1, 2/3, and 4 were 72%, 80%, and 79%, respectively (P =.8). In conclusion, 5-year survival for patients who underwent transplantation for HCV genotype-4 infection was similar to that of genotype non-4 patients; however, more severe fibrosis and rapid fibrosis progression was observed after transplantation in patients with genotype-4 infection.

Genetically modified interferon: is there a consensus yet?

The treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection has evolved during the last decade from interferon monotherapy to combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin. National and international guidelines recommend either 6 or 12 months of interferon/ribavirin combination therapy depending on the pre-treatment virological status of the patient. However, the choice for second-line treatment of patients who do not achieve sustained viral clearance with combination therapy has yet to be defined. This commentary examines previously published studies of the use of consensus interferon for hepatitis C virus infected patients. The characteristics of the treated populations and response to treatment are examined. The current and potential roles for this type of interferon in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection are considered.