Four weeks of off-treatment follow-up is sufficient to determine virologic responses at off-treatment week 12 in patients with hepatitis C virus infection receiving fixed-dose pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals.

Early confirmation of sustained virologic response (SVR) or viral relapse after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is essential based on public health perspectives, particularly for patients with high risk of nonadherence to posttreatment follow-ups. A total of 1011 patients who achieved end-of-treatment virologic response, including 526 receiving fixed-dose pangenotypic DAAs, and 485 receiving other types of DAAs, who had available off-treatment weeks 4 and 12 serum HCV RNA data to confirm SVR at off-treatment week 12 (SVR12) or viral relapse were included. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of SVR4 to predict patients with SVR12 or viral relapse were reported. Furthermore, we analyzed the proportion of concordance between SVR12 and SVR24 in 943 patients with available SVR24 data. The PPV and NPV of SVR4 to predict SVR12 were 98.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 98.0-98.9) and 100% (95% CI: 66.4-100) in the entire population. The PPV of SVR4 to predict SVR12 in patients receiving fixed-dose pangenotypic DAAs was higher than those receiving other types of DAAs (99.8% [95% CI: 98.9-100] vs. 97.1% [95% CI: 96.2-97.8], p < 0.001). The NPVs of SVR4 to predict viral relapse were 100%, regardless of the type of DAAs. Moreover, the concordance between SVR12 and SVR24 was 100%. In conclusion, an off-treatment week 4 serum HCV RNA testing is sufficient to provide an excellent prediction power of SVR or viral relapse at off-treatment week 12 among patients with HCV who are treated with fixed-dose pangenotypic DAAs.

Validating the Baveno Elastography Criteria of Advanced Liver Fibrosis in Two-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography: A Prospective Pathology-Based Study.

INTRODUCTION: The Baveno criteria for assessing advanced liver fibrosis were mainly determined by transient elastography (TE), and its pathology-based validation studies in two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) remain limited. We aimed to validate the Baveno criteria through use of 2D-SWE. METHOD: Consecutive patients who underwent liver biopsies for various benign liver diseases were prospectively recruited. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was simultaneously evaluated by TE and 2D-SWE. The optimal cutoff value to predict advanced liver fibrosis was determined by the Youden Index, and the diagnostic performance was estimated using area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were enrolled having a median age of 55.0 (IQR: 46.0-63.5) years, with 53 (52.48%) of them being male. Using <9 and >14 kPa as the optimal dual cutoffs, the AUROC values in TE and 2D-SWE were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.83-0.97) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84-0.98), respectively (p = 0.61). The sensitivity and specificity of LSM by TE/2D-SWE achieved rates of 94.44%/94.44% and 86.00%/88.00%, respectively. However, using the Baveno criteria, the AUROC values in TE and 2D-SWE could remain achieving 0.91 (95% CI: 0.82-0.97) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84-0.98), respectively (p = 0.36). The sensitivity and specificity in TE/2D-SWE were 88.24%/88.24% and 86.79%/90.57%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study establishes the compatibility of the Baveno dual cutoff criteria with 2D-SWE, positioning it as an easily used criteria in clinical practice and research.

Benefits of Hepatitis C Viral Eradication: A Real-World Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) increases the risk of liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This nationwide cohort study assessed the effectiveness of viral eradication of CHC. METHODS: The Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C cohort and Taiwan hepatitis C virus (HCV) registry are nationwide HCV registry cohorts incorporating data from 23 and 53 hospitals in Taiwan, respectively. This study included 27,577 individuals from these cohorts that were given a diagnosis of CHC and with data linked to the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients received either pegylated interferon and ribavirin or direct-acting antiviral agent therapy for > 4 weeks for new-onset LC and liver-related events. RESULTS: Among the 27,577 analyzed patients, 25,461 (92.3%) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). The mean follow-up duration was 51.2 ± 48.4 months, totaling 118,567 person-years. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident HCC was 1.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.95, p = 0.052) among noncirrhotic patients without SVR compared with those with SVR and 1.82 (95% CI 1.34-2.48) among cirrhotic patients without SVR. The HR for liver-related events, including HCC and decompensated LC, was 1.70 (95% CI 1.30-2.24) among cirrhotic patients without SVR. Patients with SVR had a lower 10-year cumulative incidence of new-onset HCC than those without SVR did (21.7 vs. 38.7% in patients with LC, p < 0.001; 6.0 vs. 18.4% in patients without LC, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: HCV eradication reduced the incidence of HCC in patients with and without LC and reduced the incidence of liver-related events in patients with LC.

Risk Stratification for Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in Kidney Transplant Recipients With Resolved HBV Infection.

The prophylaxis strategy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with resolved HBV infection remains unclear. In this hospital-based retrospective cohort study, consecutive KTRs with resolved HBV infection were screened from the years 2000 through 2020. After excluding confounding conditions, 212 and 45 patients were respectively recruited into Anti-HBs positive and Anti-HBs negative groups. Cumulative incidences of, and subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) for HBV reactivation were analyzed after adjusting the competing risk. During a median 8.3 (mean 8.4 ± 4.9) years of follow-up, the 10-year cumulative incidence of HBV reactivation was significantly higher in Anti-HBs negative group when compared to that in Anti-HBs positive group (15.2%, 95% CI: 3.6-26.7 vs. 1.3%, 95% CI: 0.0-3.0; p < 0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, absence of anti-HBs (SHR 14.2, 95% CI: 3.09-65.2; p < 0.001) and use of high-dose steroids, i.e., steroid dose ≥20 mg/day of prednisolone equivalent over 4 weeks (SHR 8.96, 95% CI: 1.05-76.2; p = 0.045) were independent risk factors related to HBV reactivation. Accordingly, the 10-year cumulative incidence of HBV reactivation occurring in patients with two, one and zero risk factors was 42.7% (95% CI: 0.0-87.1), 7.9% (95% CI: 1.2-14.7) and 0%, respectively (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the strategy of HBV antiviral prophylaxis may be defined according to the risk stratification.

Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir with or without low-dose ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and severe renal impairment.

OBJECTIVE: Data regarding the real-world effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) with or without low-dose ribavirin (RBV) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and severe renal impairment (RI) are limited. We evaluated the performance of SOF/VEL with or without low-dose RBV in HCV-infected patients with chronic kidney disease stage 4 or 5. DESIGN: 191 patients with compensated (n=181) and decompensated (n=10) liver diseases receiving SOF/VEL (400/100 mg/day) alone and SOF/VEL with low-dose RBV (200 mg/day) for 12 weeks were retrospectively recruited at 15 academic centres in Taiwan. The effectiveness was determined by sustained virological response at off-treatment week 12 (SVR12) in evaluable (EP) and per-protocol populations (PP). The safety profiles were assessed. RESULTS: The SVR12 rates by EP and PP analyses were 94.8% (95% CI 90.6% to 97.1%) and 100% (95% CI 97.9% to 100%). In patients with compensated liver disease, the SVR12 rates were 95.0% and 100% by EP and PP analyses. In patients with decompensated liver disease, the SVR12 rates were 90.0% and 100% by EP and PP analyses. Ten patients who failed to achieve SVR12 were attributed to non-virological failures. Among the 20 serious adverse events (AEs), none were judged related to SOF/VEL or RBV. The AEs occurring in ≥10% included fatigue (14.7%), headache (14.1%), nausea (12.6%), insomnia (12.0%) and pruritus (10.5%). None had ≥grade 3 total bilirubin or alanine aminotransferase elevations. CONCLUSION: SOF/VEL with or without low-dose RBV is effective and well-tolerated in HCV-infected patients with severe RI.

Grazoprevir/Elbasvir Treatment in Liver or Kidney Transplant Recipients with Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

More options regarding the choice of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are helpful for avoiding individual limitations in treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of grazoprevir (GZR)/elbasvir (EBR) treatment in genotype-1b (GT-1b) HCV-infected liver or kidney transplant recipients. In this phase 4, single-arm, open-label, multicenter trial, patients received GZR 100 mg/EBR 50 mg daily for 12 weeks. Patients with any HCV infection other than GT-1b, liver decompensation, human immunodeficiency virus, or hepatitis B virus co-infection, a history of NS5A inhibitor exposure, or any severe drug-drug interactions (DDIs), was excluded. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response at 12 weeks posttreatment (SVR12). Of the 14 patients (10 kidney and 4 liver transplant subjects) enrolled in this study, 9 (64%) were females; the median age was 64.0 (range: 43-73) years. The regularly used immunosuppressants were tacrolimus (93%), everolimus (29%), and sirolimus (7%), with patient blood levels easily managed and generally stable (all P > 0.05 in quantile regression analysis). The rate of SVR12 was 100% in intent-to-treat analysis. Only one patient discontinued GZR/EBR therapy at 6 weeks posttreatment, due to a treatment-unrelated adverse event (AE); however, this patient remained, achieving SVR12. Most AEs were mild in severity and deemed to be not treatment-related. No organ rejection episodes or deaths occurred during the study period. The single-tablet regimen of GZR/EBR for 12 weeks is highly effective and well tolerated in GT-1b HCV-infected liver or kidney transplant recipients, and its DDIs are generally easy to manage. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT03723824.).

Impact of Sofosbuvir-Based Direct-Acting Antivirals on Renal Function in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients With Impaired Renal Function: A Large Cohort Study From the Nationwide HCV Registry Program (TACR).

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Sofosbuvir is approved for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of sofosbuvir-based therapy on renal function augmentation on a real-world nationwide basis is elusive. METHODS: The 12,995 CHC patients treated with sofosbuvir-based (n = 6802) or non-sofosbuvir-based (n = 6193) regimens were retrieved from the Taiwan nationwide real-world HCV Registry Program. Serial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels were measured at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and end of follow-up (EOF) (3 months after EOT). RESULTS: The eGFR decreased from baseline (91.4 mL/min/1.73 m2) to EOT (88.4 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < .001) and substantially recovered at EOF (88.8 mL/min/1.73 m2) but did not return to pretreatment levels (P < .001). Notably, a significant decrease in eGFR was observed only in patients with baseline eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (from 112.9 to 106.4 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < .001). In contrast, eGFR increased progressively in patients whose baseline eGFR was <90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (from 70.0 to 71.5 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < .001), and this increase was generalized across different stages of CKD. The trend of eGFR amelioration was consistent irrespective of sofosbuvir usage. Multivariate adjusted analysis demonstrated that baseline eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m2 was the only factor independently associated with significant slope coefficient differences of eGFR (-1.98 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% confidence interval, -2.24 to -1.72; P < .001). The use of sofosbuvir was not an independent factor associated with eGFR change. CONCLUSIONS: Both sofosbuvir and non-sofosbuvir-based regimens restored renal function in CHC patients with CKD, especially in those with significant renal function impairment.

Advances in the Era of Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: In patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the advances in direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic hepatitis C remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of DAA therapy, when compared to interferon (IFN) therapy. METHODS: In this hospital-based study, all HCC patients in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B or C, who received pegylated IFN or DAA, were retrospectively screened from 2009 to 2020. Patients without viremia, without HCC, or with HCC in BCLC stage 0, A, or D prior to antiviral therapy were excluded. Rates of and odds ratio (OR) for sustained virological response (SVR) achievement were analyzed. RESULTS: Nineteen and 78 patients were recruited into the IFN and DAA groups, respectively. The median age was significantly older in the DAA group (DAA vs. IFN: 69.5 [25-75% IQR: 62.8-77.3] vs. 64.0 [25-75% IQR: 61.0-68.0]; p < 0.05). The SVR rates were higher in the DAA group as per protocol (DAA vs. IFN: 94.5% vs. 76.5%; p < 0.05) and in BCLC stage B (DAA vs. IFN: 95.2% vs. 76.5%; p < 0.05). All patients in BCLC stage C received DAA therapy, with the SVR rate being 90.9%. In multivariable regression analysis, the 4-week virological response (OR 5.6, 95% CI: 1.3-25.4) and HCC within the up-to-7 criteria (OR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.1-12.9) were independent factors associated with SVR (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to IFN therapy, more elderly patients with unresectable HCCs were able to receive DAA therapy, while achieving a significantly higher SVR rate.

Establishing the blood reference interval of pancreatic elastase-1: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pancreatic elastase-1 (PE-1) has been investigated in pancreatic disorders. However, the reference interval (RI) of PE-1 in blood remains unconfirmed. We aimed to establish the blood RI of PE-1 in an adult population. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we enrolled 400 adults who had received the whole-body physical check-up program between May 1, 2019 and November 20, 2019. The serum and plasma PE-1 levels were measured by latex turbidimetric immunoassay in different storage conditions (fresh, refrigerated, and frozen). The 95% and 99% RI of PE-1 were calculated according to the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The correlations between PE-1 and other parameters were analyzed using multivariable regression models. Ultimately, 38 patients with acute pancreatitis were prospectively recruited as the validation cohort. RESULTS: The PE-1 levels in fresh serum were highly correlated with those in refrigerated (R2  = 0.998) or frozen (R2  = 0.942) samples; however, plasma should not be suggested in frozen conditions (plasma vs serum: R2  = 0.185). In the RI study population (202 male & 198 female participants), the median age was 52.6 (25-75% interquartile range: 43.1-61.0). The 95% and 99% RIs of PE-1 were 30.0-221.0 and 22.0-359.0 ng/dL, respectively. Triglycerides (ß = 0.106, P = 0.033), lipase (ß = 0.154, P = 0.007), and CA19-9 (ß = 0.130, P = 0.008) were independent factors associated with PE-1. In the pancreatitis validation cohort, with a cut-off value of 359.0 ng/dL, the sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 99.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The RI of PE-1 established in this study can be used for further applications. Serum is the suggested form for frozen sample storage.

Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for HCV genotype 1, 2, 4-6 infection: Real-world evidence from a nationwide registry in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL) HCV Registry (TACR) is a nationwide registry of chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan. This study evaluated antiviral effectiveness of ledipasvir (LDV)/sofosbuvir (SOF) in patients in the TACR. METHODS: Patients enrolled in TACR from 2017-2020 treated with LDV/SOF were eligible. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with sustained virologic response 12 weeks after end of treatment (SVR12). RESULTS: 5644 LDV/SOF ± ribavirin-treated patients were included (mean age: 61.4 years; 54.4% female). Dominant viral genotypes were GT1 (50.8%) and GT2 (39.3%). 1529 (27.1%) patients had liver cirrhosis, including 201 (3.6%) with liver decompensation; 686 (12.2%) had chronic kidney disease. SVR12 was achieved in 98.6% of the overall population and in 98.2% and 98.7% of patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively. SVR12 rates in patients with compensated cirrhosis treated with LDV/SOF without RBV were >98%, regardless of prior treatment experience. SVR12 was 98.6%, 98.4%, 100%, 100%, and 98.7% among those with GT1, GT2, GT4, GT5, and GT6 infections, respectively. Although patient numbers were relatively small, SVR12 rates of 100% were reported in patients infected with HCV GT2, GT5, and GT6 with decompensated cirrhosis and 98% in patients with severely compromised renal function. LDV/SOF adherence ≤60% (P < 0.001) was the most important factor associated with treatment failure. Incidence of adverse events was 15.8%, with fatigue being the most common. CONCLUSION: LDV/SOF is effective and well tolerated in routine clinical practice in Taiwan. Cure rates were high across patient populations.

Evaluating the renal safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in hepatitis B patients without chronic kidney disease.

The nephrotoxicity of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate nephrotoxicity of TDF in this population. In this hospital-based cohort study, CHB patients who received either TDF or entecavir (ETV) therapy, and did not have underlying CKD, were retrospectively recruited from January, 2008 to January, 2019. After excluding those with confounding conditions, 257 TDF-treated patients were matched through propensity scores with 514 ETV-treated patients. Cumulative incidences of, and hazard ratios (HRs) for the CKD guideline-defined renal dysfunction, were analysed. The mean decline in glomerular filtration rate was similar over 60 months (TDF vs. ETV: 10.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 , 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.4-12.7 vs. 8.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 , 95% CI: 6.4-9.6; p = .34). The 5-year cumulative incidence of renal dysfunction was not significantly different (TDF vs. ETV: 10.4%, 95% CI: 5.6-18.0 vs. 5.8%, 95% CI: 3.6-9.0; p = .18). However, in multivariable stratified analysis, TDF was associated with an increased risk of renal dysfunction in the elderly (age ≥60 years), when compared to ETV (HR 2.86, 95% CI: 1.02-8.01; p < .05). For confirming the effect of TDF amongst the elderly, 61 TDF-treated patients were further matched with 183 ETV-treated patients, with 5-year cumulative incidence of renal dysfunction being significantly higher in TDF users (TDF vs. ETV: 34.4%, 95% CI: 17.7-59.8 vs. 15.5%, 95% CI: 9.4-25.1; p < .05). TDF use was independently related to renal dysfunction (HR 2.71, 95% CI: 1.19-6.14; p < .05). Although TDF is generally safe for CHB patients without CKD, it is best to be avoided in the elderly.

Factors associated with treatment failure of direct-acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C: A real-world nationwide hepatitis C virus registry programme in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are highly effective in treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. The real-world treatment outcome in Taiwanese patients on a nationwide basis is elusive. METHODS: The Taiwan HCV Registry (TACR) programme is a nationwide registry platform including 48 study sites, which is organized and supervised by the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver. The primary endpoint was sustained virological response (SVR12, undetectable HCV RNA 12 weeks after end-of-treatment). RESULTS: A total of 13 951 registered patients with SVR12 data available were analysed (mean age, 63.0 years; female, 55.9%; HCV genotype-1 [GT1], 57.9%; cirrhosis, 38.4%; preexisting hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], 10.6%; and hepatitis B virus coinfection, 7.7%). The overall SVR12 rate was 98.3%, with 98.7%, 98.0%, 98.4% and 97.4% in treatment-naïve noncirrhotic, treatment-naïve cirrhotic, treatment-experienced noncirrhotic and treatment-experienced cirrhotic patients, respectively. The SVR12 rate was > 95% across all subgroups except treatment-experienced cirrhotic patients who received sofosbuvir/ribavirin (88.7%), treatment-naïve noncirrhotic patients (94.8%) and treatment-experienced cirrhotic (94.8%) patients who received daclatasvir/asunaprevir. The most important factor associated with treatment failure was DAA adherence < 60% ( adjusted odds ratio [aOR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 117.1/52.4-261.3, P < .001), followed by GT3/GT2 (aOR/CI: 5.78/2.25-14.9, P = .0003 and aOR/CI: 1.55/1.05-2.29, P = .03, compared with GT1), active hepatocellular carcinoma (aOR/CI: 4.29/2.57-7.16, P < .001), the use of sofosbuvir/ribavirin (aOR/CI: 2.51/1.67-3.77, P < .001) and daclatasvir/asunaprevir (aOR/CI: 3.29/1.94-5.58, P < .001), decompensated liver cirrhosis (aOR/CI: 2.50/1.20-5.22, P = .02) and high HCV viral loads (aOR/CI: 2.16/1.57-2.97, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: DAAs are highly effective in treating Taiwanese HCV patients in the real-world setting. Maintaining DAA adherence and selecting highly efficacious regimens are keys to ensure treatment success.

Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b administered every two weeks for patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a novel mono-pegylated interferon that has only one major form as opposed to the 8 to 14 isomers of other on-market pegylated interferon products, allowing every-two-week injection with high tolerability. It received European Medicines Agency marketing authorization in 2019 and Taiwan Biologics License Applications Approval in 2020 for the treatment of polycythemia vera. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. METHODS: Eighty-six treatment naive patients with genotype 2 CHC were randomized to weekly peginterferon alfa-2a (Peg-IFN-α2a) at 180 µg (n = 22), or every-two-week Ropeginterferon alfa-2b at 270 µg (n = 23), 360 µg (n = 21), 450 µg (n = 20), plus daily oral ribavirin 1000 mg (≤75 kg) or 1200 mg (>75 kg). Patients with rapid virologic response received 16-week regimen while those without RVR received 24-week regimen. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response at 24 weeks post-treatment (SVR24). RESULTS: SVR24 was achieved by 95.5%, 78.3%, 85.7%, and 60% of subjects in Peg-IFN-α2a 180 µg, Ropeginterferon alfa-2b 270 µg, 360 µg, and 450 µg groups, respectively. The safety profile was similar across 4 groups. The incidence rate of adverse event during the treatment period was 0.407, 0.252, 0.395, and 0.347 per patient-week, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ropeginterferon alfa-2b, although at only half the number of injections, is as safe and effective as Peg-IFN-α2a for genotype 2 CHC. A phase 3 study to confirm safety and efficacy of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b in genotype 2 CHC is ongoing.

High Risk of Clinical Relapse in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection After Cessation of Prophylactic Antiviral Therapy for Rituximab-Containing Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Prophylaxis with nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) is recommended to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients receiving rituximab-based B-cell depletion therapy. However, little is known about the risk of clinical relapse after withdrawal of NA. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 77 noncirrhotic HBsAg carriers with hematological cancer who received rituximab-containing chemotherapy. All of them received either prophylactic entecavir or tenofovir therapy. The risk of clinical relapse and hepatic decompensation after cessation of NA was explored. RESULTS: Clinical relapse and hepatic decompensation developed in 25 (32.5 %) and 11 (14.3 %) of the patients, respectively, and 2 patients died of hepatic decompensation. Most of the hepatic events occurred within 1 year (20 of 25; 80.0%) after stopping NA. A higher pretreatment viral load (≥2000 vs <2000 IU/mL) was associated with increased risks of clinical relapse (hazard ratio, 3.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-7.73) and hepatic decompensation (9.91; 2.14-45.92). Of 51 patients with pretreatment viral load <2000 IU/mL, clinical relapse occurred in 10 (19.6 %) and hepatic decompensation in 2 (3.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment HBV DNA ≥2000 IU/mL is associated with increased risk of liver-related disease after cessation of prophylactic NA therapy in patients who received rituximab-containing chemotherapy.

Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and severe renal impairment.

Data are limited regarding the real-world effectiveness and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and severe renal impairment (RI). We aimed to evaluate the performance of GLE/PIB in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5 in Taiwan. 108 chronic HCV patients with CKD stage 4 (n = 32) or 5 (n = 76) receiving GLE/PIB for 8-12 weeks were retrospectively recruited at 4 academic centres in Taiwan. The effectiveness was determined by sustained virologic response at off-therapy week 12 (SVR12 ) for evaluable (EP) and per-protocol populations (PP). The safety profiles were also assessed. By EP and PP analyses, the SVR12 rate was 99.1% (107 of 108 patients; 95% confidence interval (CI): 94.9%-99.8%) and 100% (107 of 107 patients; 95% CI: 96.5%-100%). The SVR12 rates were 100% (95% CI: 89.3%-100%) and 98.7% (95% CI: 92.9%-99.8%) in patients with CKD stage 4 and 5, respectively. One patient, who declined off-therapy follow-up after permanently discontinuing GLE/PIB at on-treatment week 9 due to scheduled cardiac surgery, had nonvirologic failure. Sixteen (14.8%) patients had serious adverse events (AEs), which were judged not related to GLE/PIB. The three most common AEs were pruritus (19.4%), fatigue (15.7%) and nausea (13.9%). None had ≥3-fold upper limit of normal for total bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase levels. None of the 9 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection developed HBV-associated hepatitis. In conclusion, GLE/PIB for 8-12 weeks is effective and well-tolerated in HCV patients with severe RI.

Lusutrombopag for the Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease Undergoing Invasive Procedures (L-PLUS 2).

Thrombocytopenia may be associated with increased bleeding risk impacting timing and outcome of invasive procedures in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Lusutrombopag, a small-molecule, thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist, was evaluated as a treatment to raise platelet counts (PCs) in patients with thrombocytopenia and CLD undergoing invasive procedures. L-PLUS 2 was a global, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Adults with CLD and baseline PCs < 50 × 109 /L were randomized to receive once-daily lusutrombopag 3 mg or placebo ≤ 7 days before an invasive procedure scheduled 2-7 days after the last dose. The primary endpoint was avoidance of preprocedure platelet transfusion and avoidance of rescue therapy for bleeding. A key secondary endpoint was number of days PCs were ≥ 50 × 109 /L throughout the study. Safety analysis was performed on patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This study occurred between June 15, 2015, and April 19, 2017, with a total of 215 randomized patients (lusutrombopag, 108; placebo, 107); 64.8% (70/108) of patients in the lusutrombopag group versus 29.0% (31/107) in the placebo group met the primary endpoint (P < 0.0001; difference of proportion 95% confidence interval [CI], 36.7 [24.9, 48.5]). The median duration of PCs ≥ 50 × 109 /L was 19.2 days with lusutrombopag (without platelet transfusion) compared with 0.0 in the placebo group (with platelet transfusion) (P = 0.0001). Most adverse events were mild or moderate in severity, and rates were similar in the lusutrombopag and placebo groups (47.7% and 48.6%, respectively). Conclusion: Lusutrombopag was superior to placebo for reducing the need for platelet transfusions and achieved durable PC response in patients with thrombocytopenia and CLD undergoing invasive procedures, with a safety profile similar to placebo.

Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma development after hepatitis C virus eradicated by direct-acting antivirals: Fact or fiction?

Although interferon (IFN)-based therapy has been shown to reduce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development once patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection achieve sustained virologic response (SVR), IFN-based therapy is limited by its multiple adverse effects, non-oral administration, and unsatisfactory SVR rate. In recent years, IFN-free all-oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have replaced IFN-based therapy as the standard of care for HCV infection worldwide because of the higher SVR rate and lower incidence of adverse effects. By using currently approved DAA regimens, HCV can be eradicated in more than 95% of infected hosts, regardless of their disease severity. Since 2016, the risk of de novo occurrence or recurrence of HCC in hepatitis C patients receiving DAAs has been debatable because of a report addressing an unexpected high early tumor recurrence rate. To solve this important, interesting, yet controversial issue, we thus reviewed the latest and most relevant articles on this subject and proposed recommendations to manage such patients for healthcare providers.

Paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir plus dasabuvir for East Asian non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b patients receiving hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Data regarding the efficacy and safety of paritaprevir/ritonavir, ombitasvir plus dasabuvir (PrOD) for East Asian non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b (HCV GT1b) patients receiving hemodialysis were limited. METHODS: Forty-six HCV GT1b non-cirrhotic patients receiving hemodialysis who received PrOD for 12 weeks were prospectively enrolled in seven academic centers in Taiwan. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks off-therapy (SVR12 ). Patients' baseline characteristics, early virokinetics, and HCV resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) potentially related to SVR12 were analyzed. The safety profiles were also assessed. RESULTS: The SVR12 rate was 100% (46 of 46 patients). Patients' baseline characteristics, on-treatment viral decline, and baseline HCV resistance-associated substitutions did not affect SVR12 . All patients tolerated treatment well. One patient with folliculitis temporarily discontinued treatment, and another two patients had serious adverse events (SAEs), which were considered not related to PrOD treatment. The common adverse events were pruritus (19.6%), fatigue (15.2%), and upper respiratory tract infection (6.5%). Twelve (19.6%) and one (2.2%) patients had hemoglobin levels < 10 and 8.5 g/dL, respectively, which were related to renal impairment. Five (10.9%) patients had on-treatment total bilirubin level of 1.5-3.0 mg/dL, but none developed hepatic decompensation. The bilirubin levels peaked at week 1 of treatment and then declined with continuous treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment with PrOD for 12 weeks is efficacious and well-tolerated for East Asian non-cirrhotic HCV GT1b patients receiving hemodialysis.

Risk factors and metabolic abnormality of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Either non-obese or obese Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs not only in obese individuals but also in non-obese ones. The aim of this study was to focus on the association between NAFLD and metabolic events in a non-obese or obese Chinese population. METHODS: Data collected from subjects registered at Taichung Veterans General Hospital from January to December 2009 were analyzed. The exclusion criteria were alcoholics, chronic hepatitis B or C. Patients included in analyses were assigned to four groups according to sonography of their liver (normal or NAFLD), and body mass index (BMI) levels (non-obese if BMI < 25 kg/m2 or obese if BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). RESULTS: There were 745, 208, 770 and 285 patients enrolled in four groups labeled non-obese normal liver (group A), non-obese NAFLD (group B), obese normal liver (group C) and obese NAFLD (group D), respectively. The highest ratio of metabolic syndrome existed in the group B (26.9%), followed by group A (11.7%), group D (10.9%) and finally the group C (5.2%). The positive association with NAFLD in non-obese individuals was significant in triglyceride (OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01-1.02) and glucose (OR = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03), while the positive association with NAFLD in obese subjects was only significant in triglyceride (OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01-1.02). The positive association was most significant in all cases (adjusted OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.78-3.24), especially in non-obese individuals (OR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.92-4.12). CONCLUSIONS: Non-obese NAFLD subjects displayed a higher proportion of metabolic abnormality. Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia had the most positive strength association with NAFLD.

Hepatitis B virus-related mortality in rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing long-term low-dose glucocorticoid treatment: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Glucocorticoids (GC) are commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients which bears a risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of HBV-related mortality under long-term low-dose GCs in Taiwanese RA patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 45,423 RA patients using National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1999 to December 2011. Of them, 2204 patients had the diagnosis of HBV and were classified into four groups according to GCs regimens. Outcome comparison by Cox model analysis for liver-related mortality was performed. RESULTS: In this cohort, 90.5% were older than 40. One hundred and five patients had been treated with short-term large-dose GCs (Group A); 862 patients received GCs ≥20 mg/day for ≥3 days or a variable dose but did not meet Group C criteria (Group B); 689 patients were continuously treated with low-dose (<20 mg/day) GCs for ≥3 months for at least one session (Group C); and 548 patients had never been exposed to GCs (Group D). Two hundred and sixty-one patients had been exposed to antiviral agents, which was significantly higher in Group C. Fifty-eight patients (2.63%) died of acute hepatic failure, while no statistically significant difference between each groups (p = 0.074). Groups C and D comparison by two-sample test showed that long-term low-dose GC treatment was not associated with liver-related death after adjusting for malignancy. CONCLUSION: Long-term low-dose GC treatment was not associated with liver-related mortality in RA with concomitant HBV patients probably due to commonly applied antiviral therapy by rheumatologists.