Retrospective multicentre study on the effectiveness of first-line direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus genotype-1.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: In Japan, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir are recommended as first-line treatments for patients with untreated hepatitis C virus genotype 1. Although they have demonstrated a high efficacy in clinical trials, there are no direct comparative studies. Clarification of their effectiveness and safety in real-world clinical practice is required. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective multicentre study on the effectiveness of these direct-acting antivirals in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical data of untreated patients with persistent HCV genotype 1 infection who started first-line treatment with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir between September 2015 and January 2019 at 11 medical institutions in Japan. The primary efficacy endpoint was a sustained virologic response after 12 weeks of treatment. The secondary endpoints included sustained virologic response after 24 weeks of treatment and end of treatment response. The safety endpoint was treatment completion rate. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: During the study, 420 patients (median age, 70 years; 181 males) received ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, 48 (median age 72, years; 29 males) received elbasvir/grazoprevir and 63 (median age 66, years; 35 males) received glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. For ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, the sustained virologic response after 12 weeks of treatment was 98.6%, 97.9% and 100%; the sustained virologic response after 24 weeks of treatment was 99.0%, 97.7% and 100%; the end of treatment response was 99.8%, 97.9% and 98.4%; and the treatment completion rate was 98.3%, 91.7% and 100% respectively. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: In real-world clinical practice, hepatitis C virus treatment with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir was effective with safety.

Augmented Renal Clearance in Pediatric Patients With Febrile Neutropenia Associated With Vancomycin Clearance.

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin (VCM) dosage optimization in the early stages of therapy is required to achieve target trough serum concentrations, particularly in critically ill patients. Augmented renal clearance (ARC), commonly characterized by an enhanced renal clearance, has been associated with subtherapeutic concentrations of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors including febrile neutropenia for both ARC and VCM clearance in Japanese pediatric patients. METHODS: A total of 109 pediatric patients with normal renal function were included in this observational study. From VCM serum concentrations, individual VCM clearance was estimated by the Bayesian method using a 1-compartment model. Patients were classified on the basis of the presence of febrile neutropenia, cancer, trauma, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and surgical operation. Risk factors for ARC, as defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) above median value (≥160 mL·min·1.73 m), were evaluated. RESULTS: Febrile neutropenia was only an independent risk factor for ARC (odds ratio, 5.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.98-21.66, P = 0.0030), which was the result of a stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis. Although univariate analysis demonstrated a significant association of febrile neutropenia with VCM clearance, the significant independent factors of VCM clearance were age and eGFR but not febrile neutropenia, as estimated by the stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study concluded that febrile neutropenia, a significant risk factor for ARC, indirectly influenced VCM clearance towing to an elevated eGFR. Cancer, trauma, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and surgical operation were not significantly associated with ARC; however, more studies are needed to validate this observation. Adjustment of the initial dosage of VCM is required for achieving optimal therapeutic concentrations in pediatric patients with febrile neutropenia.