How are HCV-infected patients being identified in Brazil: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C is an important health problem. In Brazil, 1-2 million people are infected. Despite this expressive number, and the availability of very successful treatment, many patients remained undiagnosed mainly because of the asymptomatic nature of the infection. OBJECTIVES: To describe epidemiological characteristics of HCV-infected patients seen at referral centers in Brazil, the source of referral, and the time spanned to reach a reference center, in order to improve the identification of undiagnosed patients. METHODS: Multicenter observational, cross-sectional study carried out in 15 centers of Brazil, between January/2016 and June/2017. Data of patients with a confirmed diagnosis (anti-HCV and HCV-RNA) were collected by interview using standard questionnaires and by review of charts. RESULTS: Two thousand patients were included; 55.1% were male, mean age 58±11 years. Only 14.9% had higher education and 84.2% received up to five monthly minimum Brazilian wages (approximately US$260.00/month). The time between diagnosis and beginning of follow-up was 22.9 months. The most common reasons for testing were check-up (33.2%) and blood donation (19%). General practitioners diagnosed most of the patients (30.1%). Fibrosis stage was mainly evaluated by liver biopsy (61.5%) and 31.3% of the patients were cirrhotic at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter Brazilian study showed that the mean time to reach a referral center for treatment was almost two years. Primary care physicians diagnoses most hepatitis C cases in the country. Population campaigns and medical education should be encouraged to intensify screening of asymptomatic individuals, considering the efficiency of check-ups in identifying new patients.

Interferon-alpha therapy within the first year after acute hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis patients: efficacy and tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Interferon monotherapy significantly reduces the chronicity rate of acute hepatitis C in nonuremic patients. In this clinical study, we evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of interferon-alpha therapy for acute hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Patients with acute hepatitis C, established on the basis of seroconversion to anti-hepatitis C virus and the presence of hepatitis C virus RNA, received a low dose of interferon-alpha (3 MU three times per week) for 12 months or a high dose (5 MU three times per week, preceded by a daily induction dose) for 6 months. Response to treatment was defined as undetectable hepatitis C virus RNA at the end of treatment and sustained virological response was defined as persistent negative hepatitis C virus RNA 6 months after the end of treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were treated, 16 with a low dose of interferon-alpha and seven with a high dose. At the end of treatment, hepatitis C virus RNA was undetectable in 16/23 patients (70%). Of these, 6/23 patients (26%) relapsed and 10/23 (43%) maintained a sustained virological response (38% in lower doses vs. 57% in higher doses). Treatment was well tolerated and only three patients discontinued therapy (13%). CONCLUSION: Interferon-alpha within the first year after acute hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients was found to be safe and effective, inducing a sustained virological response in 43% of cases. This study supports the routine indication of acute hepatitis C treatment with interferon-alpha for hemodialysis patients, and higher doses administered for a shorter period of time should be tried according to the tolerance of the patients.

How are HCV-infected patients being identified in Brazil: a multicenter study

ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis C is an important health problem. In Brazil, 1-2 million people are infected. Despite this expressive number, and the availability of very successful treatment, many patients remained undiagnosed mainly because of the asymptomatic nature of the infection. Objectives: To describe epidemiological characteristics of HCV-infected patients seen at referral centers in Brazil, the source of referral, and the time spanned to reach a reference center, in order to improve the identification of undiagnosed patients. Methods: Multicenter observational, cross-sectional study carried out in 15 centers of Brazil, between January/2016 and June/2017. Data of patients with a confirmed diagnosis (anti-HCV and HCV-RNA) were collected by interview using standard questionnaires and by review of charts. Results: Two thousand patients were included; 55.1% were male, mean age 58 ± 11 years. Only 14.9% had higher education and 84.2% received up to five monthly minimum Brazilian wages (approximately US$260.00/month). The time between diagnosis and beginning of follow-up was 22.9 months. The most common reasons for testing were check-up (33.2%) and blood donation (19%). General practitioners diagnosed most of the patients (30.1%). Fibrosis stage was mainly evaluated by liver biopsy (61.5%) and 31.3% of the patients were cirrhotic at diagnosis. Conclusions: This multicenter Brazilian study showed that the mean time to reach a referral center for treatment was almost two years. Primary care physicians diagnoses most hepatitis C cases in the country. Population campaigns and medical education should be encouraged to intensify screening of asymptomatic individuals, considering the efficiency of check-ups in identifying new patients.

Factors associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis in end-stage kidney disease patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the histological aspects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in hemodialysis patients and the factors related to the progression of hepatic fibrosis in this population have not been defined. AIM: To evaluate the influence of host-related factors on the fibrosis progression in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with HCV infection. METHODS: HCV-infected ESRD patients who submitted to liver biopsy were included. The fibrosis stages were classified according to METAVIR scoring system. For the identification of factors associated with more advanced liver fibrosis, the patients were classified into two groups: group 1, absence of septal fibrosis (F0-1) and group 2, presence of septal fibrosis (F2-4). Groups 1 and 2 were compared regarding demographic, epidemiological, and laboratory variables and logistic regression analysis was used to identify the variables that were independently associated with the presence of septal fibrosis. RESULTS: A total of 216 ESRD patients (63% men, 44+/-11 years) were included. In the histological analysis, the fibrosis stages were as follows: F0=36%, F1=41%, F2=12%, F3=7, and 4% had cirrhosis (F4). In the logistic regression model, the variables that were independently associated with the presence of septal fibrosis were duration of infection, estimated age at infection, coinfection with HBV and aspartate aminotransferase levels. CONCLUSION: These findings support the importance of obtaining an adequate immune response to HBV vaccination and careful monitoring of liver disease in patients who become infected at an advanced age and/or those presenting elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels, as these are the main factors associated with the presence of septal fibrosis in ESRD patients.

Efficacy and tolerance of interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) show a high prevalence of hepatitis C, with a negative impact on the survival on hemodialysis and after renal transplantation. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in HCV-infected ESRD patients on dialysis. METHODS: Forty-six HCV-RNA-positive ESRD patients were studied. IFN-alpha regimen consisted of 3 million units three times a week for 12 months, and the patients were followed up for 6 months. End-of-treatment, and sustained biochemical and virological responses were evaluated and tolerance was assessed monthly. RESULTS: A sustained virological response (SVR) was observed in 10/46 patients (22%) and in 10/29 who completed the treatment (34%). Alanine aminotransferase was elevated in 63% of the patients at the beginning of the study and returned to normal levels within the first month in all patients with SVR. Treatment was discontinued because of side effects in 11/46 patients (24%) and six patients (13%) were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-alpha monotherapy for hepatitis C in dialysis patients shows a high frequency of adverse effects. However, the SVR is high (34%) in patients who complete treatment, emphasizing the importance of careful selection and close follow-up in order to minimize and control possible side effects.

Unexpected distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients on hemodialysis and kidney transplant recipients.

The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in patients on hemodialysis and in kidney transplant recipients was compared with that observed in a control group composed of HCV-infected individuals from the general population. A total of 340 patients were included in the study: 46 with end-stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis treatment, 22 kidney transplant recipients and 272 controls matched for sex and age at a 4:1 ratio (controls to patient). HCV genotype was determined by sequencing of the 5' untranslated region of the HCV genome. No difference was observed in the distribution of HCV genotypes in hemodialysis patients and renal transplant patients (P = 0.47). However, when each of these groups was compared with the control group, a significant difference was detected in the genotype distribution (P < 0.001). In hemodialysis and renal transplant patients the most prevalent subtype was 1a, followed by 1b, 3, and other less prevalent genotypes (2, 4, and 5), whereas in the control group the most prevalent subtype was 1b, followed by 3, 1a, and others. That observation may reflect differences in the epidemiology of HCV infection, viral characteristics and host factors in renal patients in comparison to the control group.