Nurse-led hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance clinic provides an effective method of monitoring patients with cirrhosis.

The aim of this study is to examine the acceptability and effectiveness of a nurse-led hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance clinic in high-risk patients with cirrhosis/advanced fibrosis. Early detection of HCC is associated with better treatment outcomes and improved survival. International guidelines recommend 6-monthly surveillance of patients at risk of developing HCC. A nurse-led HCC surveillance protocol was established to support patients in adherence to surveillance protocols. The design used was retrospective document analysis. Retrospective analysis of healthcare records of patients referred to the clinic between August 2009 and December 2015. Extracted data included attendance of clinic visits, blood testing, ultrasound or other imaging, and outcomes. Ultrasound was attended within 6 months in 30.3% of cases and within 7 months in 71.2% of cases. The median time between Nurse-Led Clinic appointments, ultrasound scans and blood testing did not exceed 9 months. First year FibroScans were attended by 82.9% (63/76) patients; endoscopy was indicated for 42 and attended by 35 (83.3%) patients. Lesions were identified in 16 patients (21.5%) and HCC diagnosed in two patients. One patient died because of HCC and one to sub-dural haematoma. Nurse-led HCC surveillance was an effective method of monitoring patients with cirrhosis at high risk of developing HCC. Well-defined protocols enable timely identification of patients with HCC or hepatic decompensation so that management strategies can be implemented without delay. The potential benefits identified by this study warrant further, rigorous evaluation.

Boceprevir early-access for advanced-fibrosis/cirrhosis in Asia-Pacific hepatitis C virus genotype 1 non-responders/relapsers.

AIM: To examined the efficacy and safety of treatment with boceprevir, PEGylated-interferon and ribavirin (PR) in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCVGT1) PR treatment-failures in Asia. METHODS: The Boceprevir Named-Patient Program provided boceprevir to HCVGT1 PR treatment-failures. Participating physicians were invited to contribute data from their patients: baseline characteristics, on-treatment responses, sustained virological response at week 12 (SVR12), and safety were collected and analysed. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine predictors of response. RESULTS: 150 patients were enrolled from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (Asians = 86, Caucasians = 63). Overall SVR12 was 61% (Asians = 59.3%, Caucasians = 63.5%). SVR12 was higher in relapsers (78%) compared with non-responders (34%). On-treatment responses predicted SVR, with undetectable HCVRNA at week 4, 8 and 12 leading to SVR12s of 100%, 87%, and 82% respectively, and detectable HCVRNA at week 4, 8 and 12, leading to SVR12s of 58%, 22% and 6% respectively. Asian patients were similar to Caucasian patients with regards to on-treatment responses. Patients with cirrhosis (n = 69) also behaved in the same manner with regards to on-treatment responses. Those with the IL28B CC genotype (80%) had higher SVRs than those with the CT/TT (56%) genotype (P = 0.010). Multivariate analysis showed that TW8 and TW12 responses were independent predictors of SVR. Serious adverse events occurred in 18.6%: sepsis (2%), decompensation (2.7%) and blood transfusion (14%). Discontinuations occurred in 30.7%, with 18.6% fulfilling stopping rules. CONCLUSION: Boceprevir can be used successfully in PR treatment failures with a SVR12 > 80% if they have good on-treatment responses; however, discontinuations occurred in 30% because of virological failure or adverse events.

Successful treatment of patients with hepatitis C in rural and remote Western Australia via telehealth.

Rural and remote patients at the Royal Perth Hospital were reviewed and treated for hepatitis C by a hepatologist and nurse practitioner using telehealth (videoconferencing). Over a four-year period, 50 patients were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, and participated in a total of more than 500 telehealth sessions. Sustained virological response rates (SVRs) were compared to those in face-to-face (FTF) clinics to assess treatment outcomes. Treatment through telehealth was found to be non-inferior to FTF clinics. Telehealth patients with genotype 1 infection achieved a higher rate of SVR than those attending FTF clinics (73% versus 54%, respectively), although the difference was not significant. SVR rates for genotype 2 and 3 of 72% were similar in telehealth to FTF rates of 74%. A total of 35 telehealth patients completed a satisfaction questionnaire and most indicated that they were happy with the programme and would participate again in the future. The study confirmed that telehealth is an effective option for the treatment of hepatitis C in rural and remote areas.

Thyroid function outcomes after pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of new thyroid disease, in patients who did not develop thyroid disease during treatment with interferon-α in combination with ribavirin for hepatitis C, during the 6-month period after the end of therapy. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 190 patients who underwent a combination of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C infection during the 36-month period between 2006 and 2008. Thyroid function tests were performed at the completion of treatment and at 4, 12, and 24 weeks of follow-up. RESULTS: During the 6 months after the completion of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy in the 190 study patients with hepatitis C infection, there were 2 cases of thyroid disease. One patient had the typical biphasic thyroiditis, and the other had primary hypothyroidism. Thus, the prevalence of thyroid disease in this setting was 2 of 190 patients (1.0%). CONCLUSION: The majority (99%) of patients had normal thyroid outcomes at 6-month follow-up. Only 1 patient had symptoms. This finding is reassuring and eliminates the need for ongoing thyroid surveillance during this time and probably longer. In the absence of symptoms, only a single thyroid-stimulating hormone measurement at 6-month review is recommended.