Hepatitis C Screening in Post-Baby Boomer Generation Americans: One Size Does Not Fit All.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the impact of access to routine health care, as estimated by health insurance coverage, on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prevalence in US adults born after 1965 (post-baby boomer birth cohort [post-BBBC]) and to use the data to formulate strategies to optimize population screening for HCV. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult examinees in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with available anti-HCV data were divided into era 1 (1999-2008) and era 2 (2009-2016). The prevalence of HCV infection, as defined by detectable serum HCV RNA, was determined in post-BBBC adults. In low prevalence groups, prescreening modalities were considered to increase the pretest probability. RESULTS: Of 16,966 eligible post-BBBC examinees, 0.5% had HCV infection. In both eras, more than 50% had no insurance. In era 2, HCV prevalence was 0.26% and 0.83% in those with and without insurance, respectively (P<.01). As a prescreening test, low alanine aminotransferase level (<23 U/L in women and 32 U/L in men) would identify 54% of post-BBBC adults with an extremely low (0.02%) HCV prevalence. Based on these data, a tiered approach that tests all uninsured directly for HCV and prescreens the insured with alanine aminotransferase would reduce the number to test by 56.5 million while missing less than 1% infections. CONCLUSION: For HCV elimination, passive "universal" screening in routine health care settings is insufficient, although the efficiency of screening may be improved with alanine aminotransferase prescreening. Importantly, for individuals with limited access to health care, proactive outreach programs for HCV screening are still needed.

Viral Hepatitis and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a potentially reversible syndrome that develops in patients with cirrhosis or with underlying chronic liver disease (CLD) and is characterized by acute decompensation, organ failure, and high short-term mortality. Hepatitis A and hepatitis E are major causes of ACLF. Hepatitis B may also cause ACLF through a flare of hepatitis B, acute infection, or reactivation. Besides supportive care, nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy should also be initiated in this setting. Nonhepatotropic viruses may rarely also cause ACLF with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus recently being identified with poorer outcomes in those with underlying CLD.

Clinical trials reimagined.

Clinical trials have been a central driver of change and have provided the evidence base necessary to advance new therapies for liver diseases. This review provides a perspective on the status of trials in hepatology and a vantage point into the emerging capabilities and external forces that will shape the conduct of clinical trials in the future. The adaptations to clinical trial operations in response to the disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for innovation in hepatology trials are emphasized. Future trials in hepatology will be driven by unmet therapeutic needs and fueled by technological advances incorporating digital capabilities with expanded participant-derived data collection, computing, and analytics. Their design will embrace innovative trial designs adapted to these advances and that emphasize broader and more inclusive participant engagement. Their conduct will be further shaped by evolving regulatory needs and the emergence of new stakeholders in the clinical trials ecosystem. The evolution of clinical trials will offer unique opportunities to advance new therapeutics that will ultimately improve the lives of patients with liver diseases.

Immunoglobulin G4-Seronegative Autoimmune Cholangiopathy With Pancreatic and Hepatic Involvement Mimicking as Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Immunoglobulin G4-seronegative autoimmune cholangiopathy is a rare cause of biliary strictures. We describe a 27-year-old man presenting with elevated liver enzymes, recurrent cholangitis/bacteremia, biliary strictures, and normal immunoglobulin G4 levels, who was initially diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, and later listed for transplantation for recurrent bacteremia. Subsequent surveillance imaging demonstrated morphologic changes consistent with biliary strictures and autoimmune pancreatitis. Initiating corticosteroids resulted in liver enzyme normalization and stricture improvement. Diagnosing seronegative autoimmune cholangiopathy remains challenging given similar presentation to primary sclerosing cholangitis. This case highlights importance of a wide differential for biliary strictures, with increased suspicion in those developing pancreatic changes in this setting.

Epidemiology and Disease Burden of Alcohol Associated Liver Disease.

Consumption of alcohol in excess leads to substantial medical, economic, and societal burdens. Approximately 5.3% of all global deaths may be attributed to alcohol consumption. Moreover, the burden of alcohol associated liver disease (ALD) accounts for 5.1% of all disease and injury worldwide. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects men more than women globally with significant years of life loss to disability in low, middle and well-developed countries. Precise data on global estimates of alcohol related steatosis, alcohol related hepatitis, and alcohol related cirrhosis have been challenging to obtain. In the United States (US), alcohol related steatosis has been estimated at 4.3% based on NHANES data which has remained stable over 14 years. However, alcohol-related fibrotic liver disease has increased over the same period. In those with AUD, the prevalence of alcohol related hepatitis has been estimated at 10-35%. Globally, the prevalence of alcohol-associated cirrhosis has been estimated at 23.6 million individuals for compensated cirrhosis and 2.46 million for those with decompensated cirrhosis. The contribution of ALD to global mortality and disease burden of liver related deaths is substantial. In 2016 liver disease related to AUD contributed to 50% of the estimated liver disease deaths for age groups 15 years and above. Data from the US report high cost burdens associated with those admitted with alcohol-related liver complications. Finally, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with marked increase in alcohol consumption worldwide and will likely increase the burden of ALD.

Portopulmonary Hypertension.

PoPH is a well-recognized complication of portal hypertension with or without cirrhosis and is classified as a subset of PAH. Identification of PoPH is crucial as it has a major impact on prognosis and liver transplant candidacy. Echocardiogram is the initial screening tool of choice and the patient should proceed to RHC for confirmation. PAH-directed therapy is the treatment of choice, allowing the patient to achieve a hemodynamic threshold to undergo a liver transplant safely.

Mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease above model for end-stage liver disease 3.0 of 40.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Since the implementation of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score to determine waitlist priority for liver transplant (LT) in 2002, the score has been capped at 40. Recently, the MELD 3.0 score was proposed to improve upon MELD-Na. Here, we examine waitlist mortality and LT outcomes in patients with MELD 3.0 ≥ 40 to assess the potential impact of uncapping the score. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Adult waitlist registrations for LT from January 2016 to December 2021 were identified in the registry data from the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network. All MELD 3.0 scores were calculated at registration and thereafter. Waitlist mortality for up to 30 days was calculated as well as post-LT survival. There were 54,060 new waitlist registrations during the study period, of whom 2820 (5.2%) had MELD 3.0 ≥ 40 at listing. The 30-day waitlist mortality was high in these patients, yet it increased further in proportion with MELD 3.0 up to a score of 55 with 30-day mortality of 58.3% for MELD 3.0 of 40-44 and 82.4% for ≥50. The multivariable hazard ratio was 1.13 for each point of MELD 3.0, adjusting for several variables including acute-on-chronic liver failure. The number of LT recipients with MELD 40 at transplant increased from 155 in 2002 to 752 in 2021. Posttransplant survival was comparable across MELD strata including MELD of 35-39. CONCLUSION: MELD 3.0 scores beyond 40 are associated with increasing waitlist mortality without adversely affecting posttransplant outcome. Uncapping the MELD score in waitlist candidates may lead to greater survival benefit from LT.

Final results from the ribavirin pregnancy registry, 2004-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Significant teratogenic effects have been demonstrated for ribavirin in animal studies. Ribavirin is prescribed for chronic hepatitis C and is contraindicated in pregnant women and their male sexual partners. Both are advised to avoid pregnancy for 6 months after exposure. The registry monitored pregnancy exposures to oral formulations of ribavirin for hepatitis C for signals of possible human teratogenicity from 2004 to 2020. METHODS: Pregnant women were voluntarily enrolled following direct exposure (ribavirin use during pregnancy or the 6 months prior) or indirect exposure (through sexual contact during pregnancy or 6 months prior, with a man who has taken ribavirin within 6 months). Women were followed until the end of pregnancy. Infants were followed until 1 year of age. Birth defect rates were compared with the published rate of 2.67 per 100 live births from the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP). RESULTS: The registry enrolled 280 pregnancies resulting in 186 live births: eight birth defect cases among 88 directly exposed [9.09% (8/88, 95% CI: 4.01, 17.13)], and six birth defect cases among 98 indirectly exposed [6.12% (6/98, 95% CI: 2.28, 12.85)]. The 95% CI around the birth defect rate among directly exposed pregnancies exceeds the MACDP rate; however, no patterns suggestive of a teratogenic mechanism or safety signal were detected. CONCLUSION: Based on the patterns of birth defects reported, the final results from this registry do not suggest a clear signal of human teratogenicity for ribavirin. The registry did not meet sample size requirements; therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results.

Tenofovir Alafenamide Attenuates Effects of Diabetes and Body Mass on Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Activities in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Persistent serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation in nucleotide/nucleoside analogue (NA)-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has been associated with unfavorable long-term outcomes.1 It has been consistently shown that a higher proportion of patients receiving tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) achieve normal ALT in comparison with recipients of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate,2-5 the mechanism for which remains unknown.2.

Feasibility and Effectiveness of Norepinephrine Outside the Intensive Care Setting for Treatment of Hepatorenal Syndrome.

Vasoconstrictors are the treatment of choice for hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). We evaluate the real-life effectiveness of a sequential vasoconstrictor regimen of midodrine-octreotide followed by norepinephrine in a nonintensive care unit (non-ICU) setting in the United States, where terlipressin is not available. The diagnosis of HRS and definitions of response to therapy were based on 2015 guidelines from the International Club of Ascites. In adult patients with HRS without partial or full response to oral midodrine and subcutaneous octreotide, norepinephrine was administered at a starting dose of 5 mcg/minute, with a goal to achieve a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 10 mm Hg above baseline. We assessed predictors of response and treatment outcomes. A total of 61 patients were administered midodrine and octreotide for the treatment of HRS, with a 28% response rate. The median MELD-Na (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-sodium) score was 30 (interquartile range [IQR] 24-35). Responders were more likely to have alcohol-related liver disease and lower Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) grade. Of the nonresponders, 20 were then administered norepinephrine, of whom 45% achieved full or partial response. Achieving an MAP increase of ≥10 mm Hg was associated with a greater probability of response. Patients who responded to norepinephrine experienced improved transplant-free survival at 90 days (88% versus 27%; P = 0.02); 5 of 20 patients experienced norepinephrine treatment-related adverse events, namely arrhythmias. Norepinephrine can be effectively used in a non-ICU setting as rescue therapy in patients who have not responded to midodrine and octreotide. Based on these data, we propose a practical stepwise algorithm for vasoconstrictor therapy to manage HRS in situations where terlipressin is not an option.

Current and future strategies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic hepatitis C infection is a major cause of liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. While hepatitis C has been treated for decades with some success, the introduction of direct acting antiviral agents has revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C with finite, highly effective, well-tolerated therapy and there are few populations that cannot be successfully treated now or are complicated to manage. The World Health Organization has released elimination targets in an effort to eliminate viral hepatitis and reduce dramatically the morbidity and mortality caused by both viral hepatitis. While hepatitis C is straightforward to treat, it remains problematic to eliminate on a global scale. Diagnosis of hepatitis C remains the major gap in the cascade of care and numerous screening strategies will be required to reduce this gap. While historically, treatment of hepatitis C has been centralized, decentralized approaches will be required to diagnose, evaluate, and link to care the large population of individuals worldwide with hepatitis C across low-, middle-, and high-income countries. With the introduction of multiple pangenotypic treatment options and reduced cost for these therapies, assessment and treatment for those with hepatitis C has been simplified and made more accessible worldwide. There are multiple populations for whom care models are being developed and refined, including those when inject drugs, those who are incarcerated, those who present with sexually transmitted disease including the men who have sex with men population, amongst many others. While a vaccine for hepatitis C remains elusive these efforts continue. Multiple successful elimination efforts have been reported.

Efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with HCV genotype 5/6: An integrated analysis of phase 2/3 studies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has high genetic diversity with six major genotypes (GT) GT1-6 and global distribution. HCV GT5 and 6 are rare with < 10 million people infected worldwide. Data on direct-acting antiviral use in these rare HCV genotypes are limited. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) in a pooled analysis of phase 2/3 trials in HCV GT5 or 6-infected patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis. METHODS: Patients with chronic HCV GT5 or 6 infection received oral G/P (300 mg/120 mg) once daily for 8 or 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virological response at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12) in the intention-to-treat population. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-one patients were evaluated; 56 with HCV GT5 and 125 with HCV GT6. The majority were treatment-naïve (88%) and non-cirrhotic (85%). Overall SVR12 rate with 8- or 12-week G/P treatment was 98% (178/181). Eight-week treatment with G/P yielded SVR12 rates of 95% (21/22) in HCV GT5- and 99% (69/70) in HCV GT6-infected non-cirrhotic patients. Eight- and 12-week treatment of patients with compensated cirrhosis achieved SVR12 rates of 100% (10/10) and 94% (17/18) respectively. The G/P regimen was well-tolerated; 3% (6/181) Grade 3 or higher adverse events, and no serious adverse events were attributed to G/P or led to study drug discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: This integrated dataset demonstrates a high SVR12 rate following 8-week G/P treatment in patients with HCV GT5 (96%) or GT6 (99%) infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis.

HCV treatment in 2020: How to translate highly effective therapies into elimination strategies.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is among the most common blood-borne infections worldwide and a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV was first identified in 1989. The current use of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) to cure HCV reflects rapid diagnostic and therapeutic advances in a short period of time that is seen in few diseases. Both the cost and access to DAAs have improved since the introduction of these therapies in 2014. While HCV is very easy to treat, it will be difficult to eliminate worldwide. The tools exist to create strategies to treat and eliminate HCV as a public health threat; however, elimination of HCV will involve improving access to diagnostic testing for HCV with confirmation of active infection. Models of care will need to be revised from centralized, specialized care to decentralized, point-of-care treatment for HCV patients. These models should include clinics that care for populations with a high prevalence of HCV, such as those treating intravenous drug users, needle exchange services, community health centers, and prisons, in addition to primary care clinics. These care pathways are feasible because of the simplicity of pan-genotypic therapies for HCV that require minimal monitoring. Many countries and regions of the world have embarked on programs with the goal of achieving the World Health Organization target of elimination by 2030. Best practices in HCV elimination should be shared globally.

Suboptimal Use of Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation May Lead to Higher Readmissions and Costs in End-Stage Liver Disease.

Background/Aims: Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) have a high risk for readmission. We studied the role of palliative care consultation (PCC) in ESLD-related readmissions with a focus on health care resource utilization in the United States. Methods: We performed a retrospective longitudinal analysis on patients surviving hospitalizations with ESLD from January 2010 to September 2014 utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database with a 90-day follow-up after discharge. We analyzed annual trends in PCC among patients with ESLD. We matched PCC to no-PCC (1:1) using propensity scores to create a pseudorandomized clinical study. We estimated the impact of PCC on readmission rates (30- and 90-day), and length of stay (LOS) and cost during subsequent readmissions. Results: Of the 67,480 hospitalizations with ESLD, 3485 (5.3%) received PCC, with an annual increase from 3.6% to 6.7% (p for trend <0.01). The average 30- and 90-day annual readmission rates were 36.2% and 54.6%, respectively. PCC resulted in a lower risk for 30- and 90-day readmissions (hazard ratio: 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38-0.47 and 0.38, 95% CI: 0.34-0.42, respectively). On subsequent 30- and 90-day readmissions, PCC was associated with decreased LOS (5.6- vs. 7.4 days and 5.7- vs. 6.9 days, p < 0.01) and cost (US $48,752 vs. US $75,810 and US $48,582 vs. US $69,035, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Inpatient utilization of PCC for ESLD is increasing annually, yet still remains low in the United States. More importantly, PCC was associated with a decline in readmission rates resulting in a lower burden on health care resource utilization and improvement in cost savings during subsequent readmissions.

Potential Benefits of Switching Liver Transplant Recipients to Tenofovir Alafenamide Prophylaxis.

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is the latest agent approved for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment. In its registrations trials, TAF demonstrated better renal safety and improvement in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities compared with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).1-3 However, data are scarce regarding these outcomes in liver transplantation (LTx) recipients.4 In this study, we determine effects of switching from other antivirals to TAF on ALT and renal function in LTx recipients.

Toward Elimination of Hepatitis C Infection: How Best to Address Gaps in the Cascade of Care?

Because of the changing demographics of hepatitis C, screening for viral hepatitis should be done routinely in all pregnant woman. This process should include linkage to care. The best elimination strategy would incorporate universal screening for hepatitis C in all individuals over the age of 18.