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Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the 12-week regimen with sofosbuvir and coblopasvir hydrochloride in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in northwest China. Methods This study enrolled 101 patients with CHC of any genotype who received sofosbuvir (400 mg) combined with coblopasvir hydrochloride (60 mg) for 12 weeks in The First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, and Baoji Central Hospital from July 1 to December 31, 2021, among whom 13 had liver cirrhosis and 88 did not have live cirrhosis. Other antiviral drugs such as ribavirin were not added regardless of the presence or absence of liver cirrhosis or the genotype of CHC. Related clinical data ere extracted, including HCV RNA quantification and liver biochemical parameters at baseline, at week 12 of treatment, and at 12 weeks after drug withdrawal. The primary endpoints were sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12) and safety at week 12 of treatment, and the secondary endpoint was the effect of the 12-week treatment on liver biochemical parameters. The non-normally distributed continuous data were expressed as M ( P 25 - P 75 ), and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. Results A total of 101 patients were included in the analysis, among whom there were 55 male patients (54.5%) and 46 female patients, and the median age was 53 years. Among these patients, 12.8% had liver cirrhosis, 1.0% had liver cancer, 3.0% were treatment-experienced patients, and 3.0% had type 2 diabetes. As for genotype distribution, 8% had CHC genotype 1, 60% had CHC genotype 2, 19% had CHC genotype 3, and 6% had CHC genotype 6, and genotype was not tested for 7% of the patients. After 12 weeks of treatment, all 101 patients had a HCV RNA level of below the lower limit of detection and an SVR12 rate of 100%, with a significant reduction in the serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) from baseline to week 12 of treatment ( P < 0.05). Among these patients, 22.7% had concomitant medications such as atorvastatin calcium, aspirin, metformin, nifedipine, bicyclol, and compound glycyrrhizin. The incidence rate of adverse events was 16.8%, and fatigue (12.9%) was the most common adverse event. Conclusion The 12-week treatment with sofosbuvir and coblopasvir hydrochloride can obtain high SVR12 in CHC patients in northwest China and has good antiviral safety, with a significant improvement in abnormal serum ALT at week 12 of treatment.
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RESUMEN Objetivo : Presentar la experiencia clínica con antivirales de acción directa (AAD) para hepatitis C crónica en pacientes VIHpositivos. Materiales y métodos : Serie de casos longitudinal y prospectiva de pacientes VIH-positivos tratados con AAD para hepatitis C crónica entre mayo de 2019 y abril de 2020 en el Servicio de Infectología del Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, EsSalud. El desenlace primario fue la respuesta viral sostenida del virus de hepatitis C (VHC) a las 12 semanas de completada la terapia con AAD. Los desenlaces secundarios fueron tolerabilidad y seguridad. Resultados : Diez pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio, dos fueron mujeres (20%). Dos pacientes presentaron cirrosis (20%). La totalidad de los pacientes tuvo la carga viral del VIH suprimida antes de la terapia con AAD. Los pacientes recibieron un esquema de 12 semanas con base en sofosbuvir: uno con daclatasvir por separado, y los nueve restantes con velpatasvir combinados en una sola tableta por día. La respuesta viral sostenida del VHC fue evaluable en nueve casos. En estos, la carga viral del VHC fue no detectable. No se registraron ocurrencias en cuanto a tolerabilidad y seguridad durante la terapia con los AAD indicados. Conclusiones : La presente investigación es la primera experiencia clínica en Perú con AAD para hepatitis C crónica en pacientes VIH-positivos. La respuesta virológica, la tolerabilidad y la seguridad frente a daclatasvir y velpatasvir, cada uno junto o combinado con sofosbuvir, fueron óptimas en la serie de casos presentada.
ABSTRACT Objective : To present the clinical experience with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C in HIV-positive patients. Materials and methods : Longitudinal and prospective case series of HIV-positive patients treated with DAAs for chronic hepatitis C between May 2019 and April 2020 at the Infectious Diseases Service of Hospital G. Almenara, EsSalud. The primary outcome was sustained virologic response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) 12 weeks after completion of DAA therapy. Secondary outcomes were tolerability and safety. Results : Ten patients were included in the study, two were women (20%). Two patients had cirrhosis (20%). All patients had suppressed HIV viral load prior to DAA therapy. Patients received a 12-week regimen based on sofosbuvir: one with daclatasvir separately, and the remaining nine with velpatasvir combined in a single tablet per day. The sustained virological response of HCV was evaluable nine cases. In these, the HCV viral load was undetectable. No occurrences were recorded regarding tolerability and safety during therapy with the indicated DAAs. Conclusions : This present investigation is the first clinical experience in Peru with DAAs for chronic hepatitis C in HIV-positive patients. Virologic response, tolerability, and safety against daclatasvir and velpatasvir, each in conjunction or in combination with sofosbuvir, were optimal in the case series presented.
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Objective To investigate the clinical effect of direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with thrombocytopenia and its effect on platelet count (PLT). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 83 CHC patients with thrombocytopenia (PLT 100×10 9 /L at baseline had a greater increase in PLT( P < 0.05). Conclusion CHC patients with thrombocytopenia have significant improvements in liver function and LSM after receiving DAA treatment and obtaining SVR12, and baseline LSM is an independent predictive factor for PLT elevation. There is a significant increase in PLT from baseline to EOT and SVR12.
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Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) complicated by fatty liver.Methods:The clinical data of 258 patients with chronic hepatitis C who received treatment in The First People's Hospital of Huzhou from March 2017 to March 2021 were included in this study. They were divided into simple CHC group and CHC complicated by fatty liver group according to whether they had fatty liver. General data, liver function, coagulation function and blood lipid indexes were compared between the two groups.Results:Among 258 patients with CHC infection, 81 cases had fatty liver, accounting for 31.40%; 177 cases did not have fatty liver, accounting for 69.14%. There were no significant differences in age, sex, and history of smoking and alcohol use between the two groups (both P > 0.05). Body mass index (BMI) differed significantly between the two groups ( χ2 = 29.81, P < 0.001). BMI in the CHC complicated by fatty liver group was slightly higher than that in the simple CHC group. There were no significant differences in history of hypertension and coronary heart disease between the two groups (both P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the presence of hypertriglyceridemia and the increase of low-density lipoprotein between the two groups ( χ2 = 8.53, 6.99, P = 0.004, 0.008). There were no significant differences in the presence of hypercholesterolemia and the reduction of high-density lipoprotein (both P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in liver function indexes such as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase between the two groups (both P > 0.05). The level of γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GGT) was significantly different between the two groups ( t =-8.71, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in activated partial thromboplastin time between the two groups ( P > 0.05). There were significant differences in prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) between the two groups [PT: (10.10 ± 0.67) seconds vs. (11.99 ± 1.33) seconds; INR: 0.91 ± 0.07 vs. 0.98 ± 0.11; t = 9.74, 4.46, both P < 0.001]. There were no significant differences in fasting blood glucose and blood uric acid levels between the two groups (both P > 0.05). Fasting insulin (FINS) differed significantly between CHC complicated by fatty liver and simple CHC groups [(16.82 ± 1.15) mlU/L vs. (12.52 ± 1.06) mlU/L, t = -24.33, P < 0.001]. The general data and clinical data were compared between the two groups. BMI, hypertriglyceridemia, high- and low-density lipoprotein, γ-GGT, PT, INR and FINS differed significantly between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression results showed that BMI ≥ 24 kg/m 2, hypertriglyceridemia, γ-GGT, PT, INR and FINS were independent risk factors for CHC complicated by fatty liver ( P = 0.017, 0.003, 0.021, 0.034, 0.004, 0.001). After 6 months of treatment, CHC RNA negative conversion rate in the simple CHC group was significantly higher than that in the CHC complicated by fatty liver group ( χ2 = 7.32, P = 0.010). Conclusion:The related risk factors of CHC complicated by fatty liver include BMI, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated low-density lipoprotein, γ-GGT, PT, INR and FINS, among which, BMI, hypertriglyceridemia, γ-GGT, PT, INR and FINS are independent risk factors. In addition, CHC complicated by fatty liver may affect the efficacy of antiviral therapy.
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ABSTRACT The chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment is currently based on the use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), and patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 3 (GT3) have emerged as a more difficult-to-cure population. The NS5A inhibitor daclatasvir (DCV) and sofosbuvir (SOF), an NS5B viral polymerase inhibitor, are among the drugs that compose more effective and safer treatment regimens. The virus genetic variability is related to resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) that adversely impact DAAs effectiveness. The aims of this study were to analyze the association of NS5A and NS5B RASs and other clinical factors with DAAs regimens effectiveness in patients with GT3 CHC infection. This was a prospective cohort study performed in a Brazilian university hospital. Individuals older than 18 years with GT3 CHC treated with SOF + DCV ± ribavirin (RBV) or SOF + peginterferon (PEG) + RBV were included. Blood samples were collected at baseline and post-treatment. A total of 121 patients were included. Sustained virological response rates were 87.6% for the SOF + DCV ± RBV group and 80.0% for the SOF + PEG + RBV arm. Cirrhosis, prior treatment with interferon/PEG + RBV, and baseline NS5A RAS were associated with higher risk of treatment failure. The NS5A analysis suggested that A30K, Y93H, and RAS at site 62 were related to failure. Interestingly, a likely compensatory effect was shown between A30K and A62T. Emergence of Y93H was always associated with RAS at position 62. The RASs dynamics comprehension is an important tool to indicate more effective treatment for GT3 patients.
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Objective To further verify the ability of noninvasive diagnostic method for liver fibrosis in predicting liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients followed up after sustained virologic response (SVR) based on liver biopsy. Methods A prospective cohort study was performed for the chronic hepatitis C patients who attended Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, from October 2015 to December 2017, and all patients were followed up regularly after SVR and underwent liver biopsy. The diagnostic efficiency of the noninvasive diagnostic method for liver fibrosis was verified based on pathological results. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the ability of LSM, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, and STATA and R language were used to compare the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results A total of 96 patients were successfully enrolled. The LSM after SVR was significantly lower than that at baseline, and LSM had a significantly larger AUC than APRI (0.89 vs 0.67, P < 0.05) and FIB (0.89 vs 0.69, P < 0.05) in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis after SVR. LSM at a cut-off value of 7.95 kPa, and based on the best specificity, the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis could be considered when LSM was greater than 9.15 kPa, with a positive likelihood ratio of 5.91%; progressive liver fibrosis could be excluded based on LSM < 6.85 kPa, with a negative predictive value of 0.98. Follow-up time and antiviral regimen had no influence on the diagnostic ability of LSM. Conclusion The cut off value of LSM needs to be lowered to predict liver fibrosis after SVR in chronic hepatitis C patients.
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Objective To investigate the influencing factors for ribavirin (RBV)-induced hemolytic anemia in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and to provide a reference for the early prediction of ribavirin-related hemolytic anemia in clinical practice. Methods A total of 49 patients with chronic hepatitis C who attended or were hospitalized in Hebei Petrochina Central Hospital from January 2018 to July 2019 and received antiviral therapy with direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) and RBV were enrolled, with a major allele of C allele and a minor allele of A allele at the rs1127354 locus of the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) gene, and the patients with AA and AC genotypes were compared with those with CC genotype. During treatment, RBV was reduced to 600 mg when hemoglobin (Hb) level was < 100 g/L and was withdrawn when Hb level was < 85 g/L. Routine blood test, liver function, liver stiffness measurement, HCV RNA, HCV genotype, and ITPA genotype were measured before antiviral therapy, and the routine blood test was performed at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 of treatment. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. Results A total of 49 patients were enrolled in this study, among whom 22 had chronic hepatitis C and 27 had liver cirrhosis, with a sustained virologic response (SVR) rate of 95.9%. The dose of RBV was reduced in 3 patients (2 in the AA/AC group and 1 in the CC group) due to anemia, and RBV was withdrawn in 3 patients (1 in the AA/AC group and 2 in the CC group); all these 6 patients had liver cirrhosis and finally achieved SVR. During the anti-HCV therapy with DAA+RBV, there was relatively mild RBV-related hemolysis, and the maximum reduction in Hb from baseline was compared between the patients with AA/AC genotype at ITPA rs1127354 and those with CC genotype, which showed no significant difference between the two groups ( Z =-0.18, P =0.87). Conclusion During the treatment with RBV+DAA, RBV is withdrawn or reduced for liver cirrhosis patients due to anemia, and no obvious statistical relation is observed between ITPA genotype and the maximum reduction in Hb from baseline. Therefore, detection of ITPA genotype before the application of RBV does not improve safety during treatment, and it is not recommended to perform conventional detection of ITPA gene polymorphisms.
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Objective To investigate the influencing factors for ribavirin (RBV)-induced hemolytic anemia in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and to provide a reference for the early prediction of ribavirin-related hemolytic anemia in clinical practice. Methods A total of 49 patients with chronic hepatitis C who attended or were hospitalized in Hebei Petrochina Central Hospital from January 2018 to July 2019 and received antiviral therapy with direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) and RBV were enrolled, with a major allele of C allele and a minor allele of A allele at the rs1127354 locus of the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) gene, and the patients with AA and AC genotypes were compared with those with CC genotype. During treatment, RBV was reduced to 600 mg when hemoglobin (Hb) level was < 100 g/L and was withdrawn when Hb level was < 85 g/L. Routine blood test, liver function, liver stiffness measurement, HCV RNA, HCV genotype, and ITPA genotype were measured before antiviral therapy, and the routine blood test was performed at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 of treatment. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. Results A total of 49 patients were enrolled in this study, among whom 22 had chronic hepatitis C and 27 had liver cirrhosis, with a sustained virologic response (SVR) rate of 95.9%. The dose of RBV was reduced in 3 patients (2 in the AA/AC group and 1 in the CC group) due to anemia, and RBV was withdrawn in 3 patients (1 in the AA/AC group and 2 in the CC group); all these 6 patients had liver cirrhosis and finally achieved SVR. During the anti-HCV therapy with DAA+RBV, there was relatively mild RBV-related hemolysis, and the maximum reduction in Hb from baseline was compared between the patients with AA/AC genotype at ITPA rs1127354 and those with CC genotype, which showed no significant difference between the two groups ( Z =-0.18, P =0.87). Conclusion During the treatment with RBV+DAA, RBV is withdrawn or reduced for liver cirrhosis patients due to anemia, and no obvious statistical relation is observed between ITPA genotype and the maximum reduction in Hb from baseline. Therefore, detection of ITPA genotype before the application of RBV does not improve safety during treatment, and it is not recommended to perform conventional detection of ITPA gene polymorphisms.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the virologic response to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy and the changes in liver stiffness measurement (LSM), fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) after treatment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with different alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels at baseline in a real-world setting. MethodsCHC patients who attended the outpatient service of Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, from December 2017 to May 2020 were enrolled, and virologic response rate was calculated. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare LSM, FIB-4, and APRI between groups at baseline and at 12 weeks after treatment, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. ResultsA total of 48 CHC patients were enrolled, among whom 33.3% had abnormal ALT or AST at baseline. Among these patients, the virologic response rate was 85.4% at week 4 of treatment and 100% at the end of treatment and at 12, 24, and 48 weeks after treatment, and there were significant changes from baseline to 12 weeks after treatment in LSM ［6.1 (51-12.4) kPa vs 8.6 (5.7-16.9) kPa, Z=-1.676, P=0.043］ and APRI ［0.24(0.19-0.48) vs 0.42(0.23-1.17), Z=-2.050, P=0027］. From baseline to 12 weeks after treatment, the patients with abnormal ALT or AST at baseline had significant changes in LSM ［89(5.6-13.1) kPa vs 14.4(8.0-28.2) kPa, Z=-1.679, P=0.047］ and APRI ［0.44(0.25-0.50) vs 1.29(0.99-2.09), Z=-3.427, P=0.001］. ConclusionCHC patients achieve a high sustained virologic response rate after DAA therapy, and the patients with abnormal ALT or AST at baseline tend to have more significant improvements in LSM and APRI than those without such abnormality.
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OBJECTIVES: Co-infection with hepatitis A or B viruses may aggravate liver injury in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, few studies have assessed co-infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) and HCV. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and impact of HEV infection among Brazilian patients with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: This observational study included adult patients with chronic HCV infection who were naive to antiviral therapy from January 2013 to March 2016. A total of 181 patients were enrolled, and HEV serology and PCR were performed for all patients. RESULTS: Seropositivity for anti-HEV IgG was detected in 22 (12.0%) patients and anti-HEV immunoglobulin M in 3 (1.6%). HEV RNA showed inconclusive results in nine (4.9%) patients and was undetectable in the remaining patients. HEV serology positive patients had more severe liver disease, characterized by liver fibrosis ≥3 versus ≤2 (p<0.001), Aspartate Aminotransferase-to-Platelet Ratio Index of ≥1.45 (p=0.003), and Fibrosis-4 score of ≥3.25 (p=0.001). Additionally, the odds of HEV-positive patients developing diabetes mellitus were 3.65 (95% CI 1.40-9.52) times the corresponding odds of HEV-negative patients. A case-control-based histological analysis (n=11 HEV-HCV-positive patients and n=22 HCV-positive patients) showed no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This prevalence is higher than that reported in previous studies of the general population in Brazil. Thus, HEV infection may influence the severity of liver disease and may represent an additional risk of developing diabetes mellitus in patients with HCV infection.
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Humans , Adult , Hepatitis E virus/genetics , Hepatitis E/complications , Hepatitis C , Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Coinfection , RNA, Viral , Hepatitis Antibodies , Prevalence , Hepatitis E/epidemiology , Hepacivirus/geneticsABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of T helper 9 (Th9) cells, interleukin-9 (IL-9), and related transcription factors in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C, as well as their association with clinical indices. MethodsA total of 29 previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C who attended Hainan Provincial People’s Hospital from December 2018 to July 2019 were enrolled, and 15 healthy individuals were enrolled as healthy controls. The patients with chronic hepatitis C received sofosbuvir/velpatasvir antiviral therapy for 12 weeks, and then plasma and peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of CD3+CD4+IL-9+ Th9 cells in PBMCs; ELISA was used to measure the plasma level of IL-9; quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the relative mRNA expression of IL-9 and the transcription factors PU.1 and Foxo1 in PBMCs. The t-test or the paired t-test was used for comparison between two groups, and a Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate correlation. ResultsCompared with the healthy controls, the previously untreated chronic hepatitis C patients had significantly lower percentage of peripheral Th9 cells (0.92%±0.14% vs 1.14%±0.21%, t=4.31, P＜0.001) and plasma IL-9 level (248.2±66.97 pg/ml vs 309.02±88.48 pg/ml, t=2.63, P=0.012). The previously untreated chronic hepatitis C patients had significantly lower relative mRNA expression of IL-9 and PU.1 than the healthy controls (t=20.67 and 23.21, both P＜0.001), while there was no significant difference in the relative mRNA expression of Foxo1 between the previously untreated chronic hepatitis C patients and the healthy controls (P＞0.05). In the previously untreated chronic hepatitis C patients, the percentage of peripheral Th9 cells, IL-9 level, and mRNA expression of IL-9 and PU.1 were negatively correlated with HCV RNA (r=-0.46, -0.38, -0.52, and -0.41, all P＜0.05), but they were not correlated with the level of alanine aminotransferase (all P＞0.05). Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir antiviral therapy achieved virologic response in 29 chronic hepatitis C patients, and the percentage of peripheral Th9 cells and the mRNA expression of PU.1 after antiviral therapy were significantly higher than those at baseline (t=2.20 and 6.52, both P＜0.05), while there were no significant changes in the plasma level of IL-9 and the relative mRNA expression of IL-9 from baseline to after treatment (both P＞0.05). ConclusionChronic hepatitis C virus infection may suppress the activation of Th9 cells, suggesting that Th9 cells might be involved in the chronicity of hepatitis C virus infection.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of elbasvir/grazoprevir in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C in the real world. MethodsA total of 35 patients with hepatitis C who received elbasvir/grazoprevir treatment in Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Guangdong General Hospital from August 2018 to March 2019 were enrolled, treated for 12 weeks, and then followed up for 12 weeks after drug withdrawal. The patients were observed in terms of sustained virologic response at week 12 after drug withdrawal (SVR12), biochemical response, and incidence rate of adverse events during treatment and follow-up. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for further comparison between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors for virologic response in patients with hepatitis C. ResultsAmong the 35 patients with HCV infection, 97.1% (34/35) had genotype 1b HCV and 2.9% (1/35) had genotype 1a HCV; of all patients, 28 (80%) were non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C and 7 (20%) had compensated liver cirrhosis. At the end of treatment, the virologic response rate of 100% (28/28) and SVR12 was 94.74% (18/19). In addition, age, sex, baseline HCV RNA load, previous treatment history, presence or absence of liver cirrhosis, renal function, and presence or absence of other diseases did not affect the treatment outcome (all P＞0.05). There were significant changes in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and albumin from baseline to the end of 12-week treatment (Z=-7.131, -6.797, -3.060, and -2.875, all P＜0.05). No patient experienced drug withdrawal during treatment. ConclusionThis study confirms that elbasvir/grazoprevir has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of hepatitis C in domestic real-world studies.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect of elbasvir/grazoprevir in the treatment of patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MethodsA total of 99 patients with genotype 1b CHC and compensated cirrhosis who received elbasvir/grazoprevir treatment for 12 weeks and completed treatment and follow-up for 12 weeks after drug withdrawal in Tianjin Third Central Hospital from December 2018 to October 2019 were enrolled. Related clinical data, serological markers, virological indices, and liver stiffness measurement were collected at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at week 12 after drug withdrawal, and virologic response was observed. The Friedman test and Wilcoxon signed rank sum test were used to observe virologic response rate and the changes in liver function and liver stiffness measurement at the end of treatment and at week 12 after drug withdrawal, and the safety of elbasvir/grazoprevir was evaluated. ResultsFor the 99 patients treated with elbasvir/grazoprevir for 12 weeks, the proportion of patients with HCV RNA below the lower limit of detection was 100% at the end of treatment and 99% at week 12 after drug withdrawal. There were significant reductions in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) from baseline to the end of treatment (Z=-5.857 and -5.941, both P＜0.05). Liver stiffness measurement decreased from 10.5 kPa at baseline to 8.0 kPa at week 12 after drug withdrawal (Z=-4.036, P＜0.05). Among the 99 patients, 24 patients with compensatory cirrhosis reached a virologic response rate of 100% at the end of treatment and at week 12 after drug withdrawal, as well as significant reductions in ALT and AST from baseline (both P＜0.05), and liver stiffness measurement decreased from 21.1 kPa at baseline to 17.5 kPa at the end of treatment (Z=-1.832, P=0.067) and 13.6 kPa at week 12 after drug withdrawal (Z=-3.182, P=0.001). Compared with the non-liver cirrhosis group, the liver cirrhosis group had significantly greater reductions in liver stiffness measurement (P＜0.05). The patients had good tolerance throughout the treatment, and 4 patients reported mild adverse events during the treatment. ConclusionPatients with genotype 1b CHC have a high virologic response rate to elbasvir/grazoprevir in the real world, with significant improvements in liver function and liver stiffness measurement and good tolerance.
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Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has a high prevalence in the world. In addition to hepatic complications with cirrhosis in about 20% of patients and high risk for hepatocarcinoma, extrahepatic manifestations may also occur. Cardiac involvement in patients with CHC is associated with several factors, such as increased risk for coronary artery disease, primary cardiomyopathies, or hemodynamic and electrophysiological changes observed in liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, antiviral treatment may, in rare cases, causes cardiovascular adverse effects. Cardiac arrhythmias are the main form of clinical presentation, and, often, markers of poor prognosis in individuals with advanced liver disease. Although some mechanisms that justify these changes have already been reported, many questions remain unanswered, especially about the true involvement of the hepatitis C virus in the genesis of primary cardiac abnormalities, and the risk factors for cardiac-related complications of antiviral treatment
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Humans , Male , Female , Hepatitis C, Chronic , Cardiomyopathies/physiopathology , Antiviral Agents/adverse effects , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Ribavirin/adverse effects , Coronary Artery Disease , Interferons/adverse effects , Interferons/therapeutic use , Drug Interactions , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/therapy , Liver CirrhosisABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Occult HCV infection has a predilection for specific populations such as haemodialysis (HD) patients. The exact natural course, epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical importance of OCI are unknown. We investigated the existence of OCI among local patients undergoing routine HD at a referral hospital in Pahang, Malaysia. Methods: Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) were collected from peripheral venous blood samples of seropositive (anti-HCV positive) and seronegative (anti-HCV negative) HD patients as well as healthy individuals (negative control group). Inclusion criteria for the seronegative patients included elevated liver enzymes. Both conventional PCR and strand-specific PCR were used to detect the viral RNA and to indicate active viral replication in PBMCs respectively. Direct DNA sequencing was done to confirm the viral HCV RNA and their genotypes. Results: In the majority (90-100%) of seropositive chronic hepatitis C patients, viral RNA was detected in both serum and PMBCs . Meanwhile, out of 22 seronegative patients, 6 (27%) showed active viral replication in PBMCs but no detectable viral RNA presence in the serum. None of the negative control group had detectable viral RNA. All seronegative patients with OCI were infected with HCV genotype 3 and two of them (2/6) had a slight elevation of their liver enzymes. Conclusion: Seronegative OCI does exist among local hemodialysis patients, with normal or persistently abnormal liver enzyme values. Further investigation is needed to study the mode of viral transmission and clinical significance of OCI in HD setting.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect and safety of sofosbuvir (SOF)-ledipasvir (LDV) in the treatment of patients with HCV genotype 6a chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MethodsA total of 63 patients with HCV genotype 6a CHC who visited Department of Infectious Diseases, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital and Nanfang Hospital, from October 2014 to December 2016 were enrolled in this prospective observational study. They were divided into SOF-LDV group (treated with SOF-LDV for 12 weeks) and PR group (treated with pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin for 24 weeks). HCV RNA was measured during treatment and follow-up, and virologic response was evaluated. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups. ResultsThere were no significant differences between the PR group and the SOF-LDV group in rapid virologic response rate (85.3% vs 100%, P＞0.05) and virologic response rate at the end of treatment (94.1% vs 100%, P＞005). The SOF-LDV group had a significantly higher sustained virologic response rate than the PR group (96.4% vs 73.5%, χ2=438, P=0.036). The PR group had a significantly higher incidence rate of adverse events than the SOF-LDV group(χ2=754,P=0006). During follow-up, one patient with liver cirrhosis in the SOF-LDV group developed small hepatocellular carcinoma, while no patient in the PR group developed liver cancer at the end of follow-up. ConclusionSOF-LDV for 12 weeks is safe and effective in the treatment of HCV genotype 6a CHC, but liver cancer should be closely monitored in patients with liver cirrhosis.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect and safety of sofosbuvir (SOF)-ledipasvir (LDV) in the treatment of patients with HCV genotype 6a chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MethodsA total of 63 patients with HCV genotype 6a CHC who visited Department of Infectious Diseases, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital and Nanfang Hospital, from October 2014 to December 2016 were enrolled in this prospective observational study. They were divided into SOF-LDV group (treated with SOF-LDV for 12 weeks) and PR group (treated with pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin for 24 weeks). HCV RNA was measured during treatment and follow-up, and virologic response was evaluated. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups. ResultsThere were no significant differences between the PR group and the SOF-LDV group in rapid virologic response rate (85.3% vs 100%, P＞0.05) and virologic response rate at the end of treatment (94.1% vs 100%, P＞005). The SOF-LDV group had a significantly higher sustained virologic response rate than the PR group (96.4% vs 73.5%, χ2=438, P=0.036). The PR group had a significantly higher incidence rate of adverse events than the SOF-LDV group(χ2=754,P=0006). During follow-up, one patient with liver cirrhosis in the SOF-LDV group developed small hepatocellular carcinoma, while no patient in the PR group developed liver cancer at the end of follow-up. ConclusionSOF-LDV for 12 weeks is safe and effective in the treatment of HCV genotype 6a CHC, but liver cancer should be closely monitored in patients with liver cirrhosis.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with Hansen’s disease are the most vulnerable to hepatitis C. However, no data on the treatment efficacy of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are available in this group. Therefore, we elucidated the prevalence and clinical outcomes of hepatitis C in persons affected by leprosy in Sorokdo, Jeollanam-do, Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively included 50 leprosy patients with positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA test results (group A) hospitalized at the Sorokdo National Hospital from May 2016 to March 2018 and 73 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with DAAs at the Chonnam National University Hospital (group B) from May 2016 to December 2017. RESULTS: Overall, at the Sorokdo National Hospital, positive HCV antibody and HCV RNA rates were 18.4% and 11.0%, respectively. The mean participant age was 76.5±7 years, and 58% of participants were men. The genotypes were type 1b in 44% (22 out of 50) and type 2 in 56% (28 out of 50). Sustained virologic response was achieved at a rate of 95.5% (21/22) in genotype 1b and 92.9% (26/28) in genotype 2 patients. Ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia occurred in 57.1% (16/28) of patients with genotype 2. Among these, 28.5% (8/28) received blood transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment efficacy was not different between the leprosy-affected population and the general population. However, severe ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia requiring transfusion was present in 28.5% of genotype 2 patients. Therefore, we suggest ribavirin-free DAAs for the treatment of genotype 2 hepatitis C in leprosy-affected persons in the future.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Anemia, Hemolytic , Antiviral Agents , Blood Transfusion , Genotype , Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C , Hepatitis C, Chronic , Hepatitis, Chronic , Korea , Leprosy , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , RNA , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: An estimated 80 million people worldwide are infected with viremic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Even after eradication of HCV with direct acting antivirals (DAAs), hepatic fibrosis remains a risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis. Recently, we confirmed the applicability of microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) as a serum biomarker for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of MFAP4 as a biomarker of liver fibrosis after HCV eliminating therapy with DAAs. METHODS: MFAP4 was measured using an immunoassay in 50 hepatitis C patients at baseline (BL), the end-of-therapy (EoT), and the 12-week follow-up (FU) visit. Changes in MFAP4 from BL to FU and their association with laboratory parameters including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), platelets, the AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4), and albumin were analyzed. RESULTS: MFAP4 serum levels were representative of the severity of hepatic fibrosis at BL and correlated well with laboratory parameters, especially APRI (Spearman correlation, R²=0.80). Laboratory parameters decreased significantly from BL to EoT. MFAP4 serum levels were found to decrease from BL and EoT to FU with high statistical significance (Wilcoxon p<0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that viral eradication resulted in reduced MFAP4 serum levels, presumably representing a decrease in hepatic fibrogenesis or fibrosis. Hence, MFAP4 may be a useful tool for risk assessment in hepatitis C patients with advanced fibrosis after eradication of the virus.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alanine Transaminase , Antiviral Agents , Aspartate Aminotransferases , Biomarkers , Blood Platelets , Extracellular Matrix Proteins , Fibrosis , Follow-Up Studies , Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C , Hepatitis C, Chronic , Hepatitis , Immunoassay , Liver Cirrhosis , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the Republic of Korea, an estimated 231,000 individuals have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of the present analysis was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of elbasvir/grazoprevir (EBR/GZR) administered for 12 weeks in Korean patients who were enrolled in international clinical trial phase 3 studies.METHODS: This was a retrospective, integrated analysis of data from patients with HCV genotype (GT) 1b infection enrolled at Korean study sites in four EBR/GZR phase 3 clinical trials. Patients were treatment-naive or had previously failed interferon-based HCV therapy, and included those with human immunodeficiency virus coinfection or Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis. All patients received EBR 50 mg/GZR 100 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after completion of therapy (SVR12, HCV RNA <15 IU/mL).RESULTS: SVR12 was achieved by 73 of 74 (98.6%) patients. No patients had virologic failure and one discontinued from the study after withdrawing consent. SVR12 rates were uniformly high across all patient subgroups. A total of 16 patients had nonstructural protein 5A resistance-associated substitutions at baseline (16/73, 22%), all of whom achieved SVR12. Adverse events (AEs) reported in >5% of patients were fatigue (6.8%), upper respiratory tract infection (5.4%), headache (5.4%), and nausea (5.4%). Thirteen patients (17.6%) reported drug-related AEs, two serious AEs occurred, and two patients discontinued treatment owing to an AEs.CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis, EBR/GZR administered for 12 weeks was well-tolerated and highly effective in Korean patients with HCV GT1b infection.