Progress towards elimination of viral hepatitis: a Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology Commission update.

The top 20 highest burdened countries (in disability-adjusted life years) account for more than 75% of the global burden of viral hepatitis. An effective response in these 20 countries is crucial if global elimination targets are to be achieved. In this update of the Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology Commission on accelerating the elimination of viral hepatitis, we convene national experts from each of the top 20 highest burdened countries to provide an update on progress. Although the global burden of diseases is falling, progress towards elimination varies greatly by country. By use of a hepatitis elimination policy index conceived as part of the 2019 Commission, we measure countries' progress towards elimination. Progress in elimination policy has been made in 14 of 20 countries with the highest burden since 2018, with the most substantial gains observed in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Russia. Most improvements are attributable to the publication of formalised national action plans for the elimination of viral hepatitis, provision of publicly funded screening programmes, and government subsidisation of antiviral treatments. Key themes that emerged from discussion between national commissioners from the highest burdened countries build on the original recommendations to accelerate the global elimination of viral hepatitis. These themes include the need for simplified models of care, improved access to appropriate diagnostics, financing initiatives, and rapid implementation of lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participant perspectives to improve tenofovir adherence in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in Kinshasa, DRC.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs for hepatitis B virus (HBV) are critical to reach the World Health Organization's 2030 HBV elimination goals. Despite demonstrated feasibility utilizing HIV infrastructure, HBV PMTCT programs are not implemented in many African settings, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a previous pilot of HBV PMTCT implementation in DRC's capital, Kinshasa, we observed low TDF metabolite levels at delivery among women with high-risk HBV who were given tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) antiviral therapy. As such, we conducted qualitative interviews with women who received TDF to understand facilitators and barriers of medication adherence. We used a modified Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model (IMB+) as a framework for thematic content analysis. We found that trust in healthcare workers, familial support, and improved awareness of the disease and treatment options were important facilitators of TDF adherence; pill size, social stigma, and low HBV knowledge were barriers to adherence. While overall acceptance of TDF was high in this pilot, improved TDF adherence is needed in order to reach efficacious levels for preventing transmission from mothers to newborns. We suggest ongoing HBV sensitization within existing maternity and HIV care infrastructure would address gaps in knowledge and stigma identified here. Additionally, given the trust women have towards maternity center staff and volunteers, scaled HBV PMTCT interventions should include specific sensitization and education for healthcare affiliates, who currently receive no HBV prevention or information in DRC. This study is timely as TDF, particularly future long-acting formulations, could be considered as an alternate rather than adjuvant to birth-dose vaccination for HBV PMTCT in sub-Saharan Africa.

Factors Associated with Liver Enzyme Abnormalities in HIV-HBV and/or HCV Co-infected Patients in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Liver enzyme abnormalities (LEA) are extremely common and sometimes severe in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but data for this disorder are lacking in the developing countries. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with LEA in HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical study included 180 people living with HIV (PLWHIV) mono-infected or co-infected with HBV/HCV between November 10, 2013 and January 10, 2014 in Kinshasa. Sociodemographic, clinical, biological, serological, and immunological data were analyzed. Levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transferase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) were determined. Antibody levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 44.2±11.0 years; female sex was predominant (76.7%). Co-infection, mainly with HBV, but also HCV, was found in 43 (23.9%) patients. Elevated liver enzymes were found in 77 (42.8%) of the patients. No difference was found in the rate of liver enzyme abnormalities between patients with HIV mono-infection or HIV co-infection (46.7% versus 30.2%, respectively; P=0.08). Factors associated with LEA were age ≥50 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.7; 95% CI 1.4-5.5), duration of HIV infection >3 years (adjusted OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.4-5.5), and CD4 T cells count ≤303 cells/mm3 (adjusted OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.5). CONCLUSIONS: Liver enzyme abnormalities are frequent in patients co-infected with HIV-HBV/HCV as well as in HIV patients without co-infection. Diagnosis is determined based on age, immunodeficiency, and length of illness.

Prevalence and determinants of Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Genotypes in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in Kinshasa

Context and objective. The steady increase in the number of chronic hemodialysis patients in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) calls for improved management of those patients. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the prevalent genotypes, and the risk factors associated with HCV in hemodialysis patients in Kinshasa (DR Congo). Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2018 in all hemodialysis centers in Kinshasa. Blood samples were collected from 127 chronic hemodialysis patients and tested for the presence of antibodies against HCV. The HCV genotype was identified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR). Results. Twenty-two (17.3 %) patients were positive for anti-HCV antibodies, ranging from 0 % to 52.9 % in different centers. Genotype 4 was detected in 18/22 (81.8 %), followed by genotype 2 in 2/22 (9.1%), and both genotypes 2 and 4 in one patient (4.5%). One patient had an undetermined genotype (4.5 %). Having received at least 4 transfusions [7,21 (1,09- 10,61); p=0.040)], not being under EPO treatment [5,81(1,47-12,96); p=0.012)], being on hemodialysis for at least 14 months [3,63(1,60-5,05); p=0.035)]and being dialyzed in an overloaded center [2,06(0,83-5,86); p=0.073)] were associated with a greater risk of HCV infection. Conclusion. This high HCV prevalence (17.3 %) represents a substantial health burden in HD patients from Kinshasa, DR Congo. It is largely driven by the number of blood transfusions, the duration time in hemodialysis. Observations from the present study underscore the need of reducing the number of blood transfusions in people on dialysis through the administration of erythropoietin, given the unaffordable cost of HCV therapy for most individuals in DR Congo.

Contexte et Objectifs. Le nombre des patients hémodialisés en Afrique subsaharienne en constante augmentation ; justifiant de ce fait une meilleure prise en charge de ces patients. La présente étude détermine la prévalence de l'infection par le virus de l'hépatite C en en determinant les génotypes ainsi que les facteurs y associés dans ce groupe de patients. Méthodes. 127 patients hémodialisés chroniques ont subis des tests sérologiques à la recherche des anticorps anti-VHC dans plusieurs centres de Kinshasa de février à juin 2018. Le génotype viral a été déterminé par la RT-PCR. Résultats. La fréquence des anticorps anti-VHC a varié de 0 à 52,9 % dans ce groupe. Les génotypes le plus fréquents ont été le 4 (18/22) et le 2 (2/22) ; étant sumultanément rétrouvé chez un patient, et indéterminé chez un autre sujet. Avoir reçu au moins 4 transfusions [7,21 (1,09-10,61; p=0.040)], ne pas être sous EPO [5,81(1,47-12,96); p=0.012)], être en hémodialyse depuis au moins 14 mois [3,63(1,60- 5,05); p=0.035)] et être dialysé dans un centre surchargé [2,06 (0,83-5,86); p=0.073)] étaient associés à un risque plus élevé d'infection par le VHC. Conclusion. Ses principaux déterminants sont : le nombre des transfusions sanguines et la durée d'HD ; d'où la nécessité de réduire les transfusions sanguines chez les sujets dialysés par l'administration d'EPO, étant donné le coût prohibitif du traitement contre le VHC dans notre contexte

Arresting vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (AVERT-HBV) in pregnant women and their neonates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains endemic throughout sub-Saharan Africa despite the widespread availability of effective childhood vaccines. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, HBV treatment and birth-dose vaccination programmes are not established. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of adding HBV testing and treatment of pregnant women as well as the birth-dose vaccination of HBV-exposed infants to the HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. METHODS: We did a feasibility study in two maternity centres in Kinshasa: Binza and Kingasani. Using the already established HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme at these two maternity centres, we screened pregnant women for HBV infection at routine prenatal care registration. Those who tested positive and had a gestational age of 24 weeks or less were included in this study. Eligible pregnant women with a high viral load (≥200 000 IU/mL or HBeAg positivity, or both) were considered as having HBV of high risk of mother-to-child transmission and initiated on oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (300 mg/day) between 28 weeks and 32 weeks of gestation and continued through 12 weeks post partum. All HBV-exposed infants received a birth-dose of monovalent HBV vaccine (Euvax-B Pediatric: Sanofi Pasteur, Seoul, South Korea; 0·5 mL) within 24 h of life. All women were followed up for 24 weeks post partum, when they completed an exit questionnaire that assessed the acceptability of study procedures. The primary outcomes were the feasibility of screening pregnant women to identify those at high risk for HBV mother-to-child transmission and to provide them with antiviral prophylaxis, the feasibility of administrating the birth-dose vaccine to exposed infants, and the acceptability of this prevention programme. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03567382. FINDINGS: Between Sept 24, 2018, and Feb 22, 2019, 4016 women were approached and screened. Of these pregnant women, 109 (2·7%) were positive for HBsAg. Of the 109 women, 91 (83%) met the eligibility criteria for participation. However, only data from 90 women-excluding one woman who had a false pregnancy-were included in the study analysis. The median overall age of the enrolled women was 31 years (IQR 25-34) and the median overall gestational age was 19 weeks (15-22). Ten (11%) of 91 women evaluated had high-risk HBV infection. Nine (90%) of the ten pregnant women with high-risk HBV infection received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and one (10%) refused therapy and withdrew from the study; five (56%) of the nine women achieved viral suppression (ie, <200 000 IU/mL) on tenofovir disoproxil fumarate therapy by the time of delivery and the remaining four (44%) had decreased viral loads from enrolment to delivery. A total of 88 infants were born to the 90 enrolled women. Of the 88 infants, 60 (68%) received a birth-dose vaccine; of these, 46 (77%) received a timely birth-dose vaccine. No cases of HBV mother-to-child transmission were observed. No serious adverse events associated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate nor with the birth-dose vaccine were reported. Only one (11%) of nine women reported dizziness during the course of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate therapy. The study procedures were considered highly acceptable (>80%) among mothers. INTERPRETATION: Adding HBV screening and treatment of pregnant women and infant birth-dose vaccination to existing HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission platforms is feasible in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Birth-dose vaccination against HBV infection integrated within the current Expanded Programme on Immunisation and HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme could accelerate progress toward HBV elimination in Africa. FUNDING: Gillings Innovation Laboratory award and the National Institutes of Health. TRANSLATIONS: For the French and Lingala translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Psychological Consequence of the Corona Virus Disease Pandemic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting the mental health of the population, but data on its impact in developing countries are lacking. The purpose of this study is to assess the psychological aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the population of Kinshasa. METHODS: This cross-sectional and analytical study included 456 randomly selected respondents in the Ngafani district of the municipality of Selembao during the period from August 1 to October 30, 2020. Socio-demographic data, and data concerning COVID-19 and its impact on mental health, were studied. Anxiety and depression were studied using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: The two genders were represented in equal proportions; the patients had a mean age of 40.4±17.2 years with a high frequency of patients aged over 50 years. All had agreed to observe social distancing, but only 36.8% had accepted isolation. Using the HADS, 47.4% had a doubtful anxiety state and 23.7% had a definite anxiety state; 36.8% had a doubtful depressive state and 25% had a definite depressive state. Old age (≥50 years), female gender, lack of occupation, and isolation were independent determinants associated with anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The frequency of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic was high. Older age, female gender, lack of a profession, and isolation were associated with anxiety and depression.

Response to single dose hepatitis B vaccine in Congolese non-HIV hemodialysis patients: a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Because of the cost, in the hemodialysis centers of Kinshasa, the double dose of hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine is administered only to HIV infected patients while other patients receive a single dose. This study aimed to evaluate the single-dose vaccination Protocol and identify determinants of seroconversion's lack of anti-HBs after vaccination schedule. METHODS: 56 non-HIV chronic hemodialysis patients serologically negative for HBs Ag, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were selected between January 2014 and December 2016. The recombinant DNA vaccine (Euvax B®20 µg) was administered intramuscularly in the deltoid muscle at days 0, 30, 60 and 180. Serum anti-HBs titer was assayed at day 240. The endpoint was seroconversion, defined as anti-HBs titer ≥ 10 IU/l (10-99 IU/l = low protective vaccine response; ≥ 100 IU/l = highly protective vaccine response). Anti-HBs titer < 10 IU/l defined a lack of seroconversion. A Logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with the lack of seroconversion. RESULTS: In the study group (mean age 55.6± 15.1 years; 73 % men, 36% diabetic and 86% hypertensive), low and highly protective vaccine responses were seen in 32% and 50% respectively versus 18% of patient had a lack of seroconversion. CRP > 6 mg/L (aOR: 8.96), hypoalbuminemia (aOR: 6.50) and KT/V < 1.2 (aOR: 3.70) were associated with the lack of seroconversion. CONCLUSION: Half of the patients in the study had either a lack or low protective vaccine response. Patient-related factors and hemodialysis parameters were the main factors associated with the lack of anti-HbS seroconversion. These results highlight the need to maximize doses of vaccine in all patients.

Prognostic value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in liver transplantation for hepatocarcinoma.

AIM: To evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment FDG positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) in patients with hepatocarcinoma treated by liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the data of 27 patients (mean age 58 ± 9 years) who underwent FDG PET-CT before LT for hepatocarcinoma. Mean follow-up was 26 ± 18 mo. The FDG PET/CT was performed according to a standard clinical protocol: 4 MBqFDG/kg body weight, uptake 60 min, low-dose non-enhanced CT. The authors measured the SUVmax and SUVmean of the tumor and the normal liver. The tumor/liver activity ratios (RSUVmax and RSUVmean) were tested as prognostic factors and compared to the following conventional prognostic factors: MILAN, CLIP, OKUDA, TNM stage, alphafoetoprotein level, portal thrombosis, size of the largest nodule, tumor differentiation, microvascular invasion, underlying cirrhosis and liver function. RESULTS: Overall and recurrence free survivals were 80.7% and 67.4% at 3 years, and 70.6% and 67.4% at 5 years, respectively. According to a multivariate Cox model, only FDG PET/CT RSUVmax predicted recurrence free survival. Even though the MILAN criteria alone were not predictive, it is worth noting that none of the patients outside the MILAN criteria and with RSUVmax < 1.15 relapsed. CONCLUSION: FDG PET/CT with an RSUVmax cut-off value of 1.15 is a strong prognostic factor for recurrence and death in patients with HCC treated by LT in this retrospective series. Further prospective studies should test whether this metabolic index should be systematically included in the preoperative assessment.