Background and Aim. The development of interferon- (IFN-) free regimens substantially improved efficacy of treatment for HCV, but despite excellent effectiveness the failures still occur. The aim of ...our study was to evaluate the efficacy of retreatment with genotype specific direct acting antivirals- (DAA-) based regimens in nonresponders to previous IFN-free therapy. Materials and Methods. Analysed population consisted of 31 nonresponders to IFN-free regimen, which received second IFN-free rescue therapy, selected from 6228 patients included in a national database EpiTer-2. Results. Age and gender distribution were similar, whereas proportion of genotype 1b was slightly higher and genotype 4 lower in the whole population compared to studied one. Patients included in the study demonstrated much more advanced fibrosis. Primary therapy was discontinued in 12 patients, which were recognized as failures due to nonvirologic reason, whereas virologic reason of therapeutic failure was recognized in 19 patients which completed therapy. Overall sustained virologic response (SVR) rate was 81% and 86% in intent-to-treat (ITT) and modified ITT analysis, respectively (74% and 78% in virologic failures, 92% and 100% in nonvirologic failures). Resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) testing was carried out in 8 patients from the group of completed primary therapy and three of them had potential risk for failure of rescue therapy due to NS5A association, while two of them achieved SVR. Conclusions. We demonstrated moderate effectiveness of genotype specific rescue therapy in failures due to virologic reason and high in those who discontinued primary therapy. Therefore rescue therapy with genotype specific regimens should be considered always if more potent regimens are not available.
In Poland, active HCV infection affects between 0.4 and 0.5% of the population, i.e., about 150,000 people, while the number of patients with epilepsy is estimated to be 350,000-400,000. Currently ...available antiviral therapies show little interaction with neurological drugs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the treatment of chronic HCV infection in patients with coexisting epilepsy.
A total of 184 epilepsy patients were selected from the group of 10,152 HCV-infected patients treated for HCV infection within the Epiter-2 database from 2015 to 2018. Comparing the effectiveness and safety of anti-HCV regimens between the patients with comorbid epilepsy and 3573 patients without comorbidities was our study's objective.
The effectiveness of anti-HCV treatment was high in both the sample and the control group. No statistically significant SVR difference was observed between the sample group, with ITT = 93.5% and mITT = 95.5%, and the control group, with ITT = 95.2% and mITT = 97.5%, regardless of the genotype and the stage of liver disease at the start of therapy. The treatment was safe in patients with epilepsy.
The effectiveness and safety of HCV treatment in patients with epilepsy are comparable to those of patients with no significant comorbidities.
AIM: To evaluate daclatasvir vs telaprevir, each combined with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin(peg IFN/RBV), in treatment-naive hepatitis C virus(HCV) genotype(GT) 1-infected patients.METHODS: In ...this phase 3, randomized, open-label, noninferiority study, 602 patients were randomly assigned(2:1) to daclatasvir vs telaprevir, stratified by IL28 B rs12979860 host genotype(CC vs non-CC), cirrhosis status(compensated cirrhosis vs no cirrhosis), and HCV GT1 subtype(GT1a vs GT1b). Patients were selected by study inclusion criteria from a total of 793 enrolled patients. Patients received daclatasvir 60 mg once daily or telaprevir 750 mg 3 times daily plus peg IFN/RBV. Daclatasvir recipients received 24 wk of daclatasvir plus peg IFN/RBV; those without an extended rapid virologic response(e RVR; undetectable HCV-RNA at weeks 4 and 12) received an additional 24 wk of peg IFN/RBV. Telaprevir-treated patients received 12 wk of telaprevir plus peg IFN/RBV followed by 12(with e RVR) or 36(no e RVR) wk of peg IFN/RBV. The primary objective was to compare for noninferiority of sustained virologic response rates at posttreatment week 12(SVR12) in GT1b-infected patients. Key secondary objectives were to demonstrate that the rates of anemia(hemoglobin < 10 g/d L) and rashrelated events, through week 12, were lower with daclatasvir + peg IFN/RBV than with telaprevir + peg IFN/RBV among GT1b-infected patients. Resistance testing was performed using population-based sequencing of the NS5 A region for all patients at baseline, and for patients with virologic failure or relapse and HCV-RNA ≥ 1000 IU/m L, to investigate any link between NS5 A polymorphisms associated with daclatasvir resistance and virologic outcome. RESULTS: Patient demographics and disease characteristics were generally balanced across treatment arms; however, there was a higher proportion of black/African Americans in the daclatasvir groups(6.0% and 8.2% in the GT1 b and GT1 a groups, respectively) than in the telaprevir groups(2.2% and 3.0%). Among GT1 binfected patients, daclatasvir plus peg IFN/RBV was noninferior to telaprevir plus peg IFN/RBV for SVR12 85%(228/268) vs 81%(109/134); difference, 4.3%(95%CI:-3.3% to 11.9%). Anemia(hemoglobin < 10 g/d L) was significantly less frequent with daclatasvir than with telaprevir difference,-29.1%(95%CI:-38.8% to-19.4%). Rash-related events were also less common with daclatasvir than with telaprevir, but the difference was not statistically significant. In GT1 ainfected patients, SVR12 was 64.9% with daclatasvir and 69.7% with telaprevir. Among both daclatasvir and telaprevir treatment groups, across GT1b- or GT1a-infected patients, lower response rates were observed in patients with IL28 B non-CC and cirrhosis- factors known to affect response to peg IFN/RBV. Consistent with these observations, a multivariate logistic regression analysis in GT1b-infected patients d e m o n s t ra t e d t h a t S V R 1 2 wa s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h IL28 B host genotype(CC vs non-CC, P = 0.011) and cirrhosis status(absent vs present, P = 0.031). NS5 A polymorphisms associated with daclatasvir resistance(at L28, R30, L31, or Y93) were observed in 17.3% of GT1b-infected patients at baseline; such variants did not appear to be absolute predictors of failure since 72.1% of these patients achieved SVR12 compared with 86.9% without these polymorphisms. Among GT1b-infected patients, treatment was completed by 85.4%(229/268) in the daclatasvir group, and by 85.1%(114/134) in the telaprevir group, and among GT1a-infected patients, by 67.2%(90/134) and 69.7%(46/66), respectively. Discontinuations(of all 3 agents) due to an AE were more frequent with telaprevir than with daclatasvir, whereas discontinuations due to lack of efficacy were more frequent with daclatasvir, due, in part, to differences in futility criteria. CONCLUSION: Daclatasvir plus peg IFN/RBV demonstrated noninferiority to telaprevir plus peg IFN/RBV for SVR12 and was well-tolerated in treatment-naive GT1 binfected patients, supporting the use of daclatasvir with other direct-acting antivirals.
The introduction of the direct-acting antivirals (DAA) has substantially improved the effectiveness of the therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We aimed to compare the efficacy of ...pangenotypic and genotype-specific DAA in the cohort of genotype (GT) four patients with HCV monoinfection and HIV coinfection. A total of 662 GT4-infected patients treated in 2015-2020-of whom 168 (25.3%) were coinfected with HIV, selected from the retrospective EpiTer-2 database-were enrolled in the analysis. Among HIV-coinfected patients, 54% (90) were treated with genotype-specific regimens and 46% (78) with pangenotypic options, while among HCV-monoinfected patients, the rates were 72% and 28%, respectively. Significantly higher rate of males (67.9% vs. 57.7%,
= 0.01), a lower rate of liver cirrhosis (10.2% vs. 18.1%,
= 0.02), and higher of treatment-naïve patients (87.5% vs. 76.7%,
= 0.003) were documented in the HIV coinfected population. The overall sustained virologic response after exclusion of non-virologic failures was achieved in 98% with no significant difference between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients, 96.2% vs. 98.5%, respectively. While the genotype-specific regimens resulted in a similar cure rate regardless of the HIV status, the pangenotypic options were more efficacious in patients with HCV monoinfection (99.3% vs. 94.4%,
= 0.05). Hereby, we demonstrated the high effectiveness and good safety profile of the DAA therapy in the population of HCV GT4 infected patients with HIV coinfection supporting the current recommendations to treat HCV/HIV coinfected patients with the same options as those with HCV monoinfection.
There is still limited data available from real-world experience studies on the pangenotypic regimens in patients with genotype (GT) 3 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and liver cirrhosis. The ...current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pangenotypic regimens in this difficult-to-treat population. A total of 236 patients with mean age 52.3 ± 11.3 years and male predominance (72%) selected from EpiTer-2 database were included in the analysis; 72% of them were treatment-naïve. The majority of patients (55%) received the combination of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL), 71 without and 58 with ribavirin (RBV), whereas the remaining 107 individuals were assigned to glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB). The effectiveness of the treatment following GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL regimens (96% and 93%) was higher compared to SOF/VEL + RBV option (79%). The univariate analysis demonstrated the significantly lower sustained virologic response in males, in patients with baseline HCV RNA ≥ 1,000,000 IU/mL, and among those who failed previous DAA-based therapy. The multivariate logistic regression analysis recognized only the male gender and presence of ascites at baseline as the independent factors of non-response to treatment. It should be emphasized that despite the availability of pangenotypic, strong therapeutic options, GT3 infected patients with cirrhosis still remain difficult-to-treat, especially those with hepatic impairment and DAA-experienced.
Introduction
Non-cirrhotic treatment-naive hepatitis C patients infected with genotype 1 can be treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) for 8 weeks, but in practice this regimen is frequently ...extended up to 12 weeks at least in part due to insufficient real-world data supporting shortening of treatment. The aim of our study was to compare 8- and 12-week regimens’ efficacy in patients eligible for 8-week therapy in a real-world setting.
Material and methods
Data of HCV genotype 1 infected patients treated with LDV/SOF between 2015 and 2018 included in the EpiTer-2 database were analyzed with respect to patients’ characteristics and length of treatment.
Results
Among a total of 1718 patients treated with LDV/SOF, 679 were included in the analysis, 238 (35%) received 8-week regimen, whereas 441 were treated for 12 weeks although they fulfilled the criteria for a shorter course. The majority of patients were infected with genotype 1b (89%) and demonstrated minimal fibrosis (55%). The 12-week regimen was assigned significantly more frequently to patients with comorbidities, concomitant medications and advanced liver fibrosis. The sustained virologic response rate was similar after 8 (98%) and 12 (97%) weeks of therapy according to intent-to-treat analysis and reached 99% in both groups after exclusion of patients lost to follow-up.
Conclusions
We confirmed high effectiveness regardless of treatment duration with LDV/SOF in non-cirrhotics infected with HCV genotype 1 eligible for the 8-week regimen according to the current label. This real-world study also demonstrated no need for addition of ribavirin (RBV) in this population and showed that shortening of treatment significantly improves the safety profile of LDV/SOF medication.
This Phase 3, open-label, rollover study (NCT01323244) investigated the efficacy and safety of simeprevir plus peginterferon α-2a (PegIFNα-2a) and ribavirin (RBV) in a well-characterized population ...of HCV genotype 1 (GT1)-infected treatment-experienced patients.
Patients who had failed PegIFNα/RBV treatment in the placebo arm of a previous Phase 2/3 simeprevir study (Phase 2/3 group, n = 125), or had been exposed to HCV direct-acting antivirals (simeprevir or other) for up to 14 days in a selected Phase 1 study (Phase 1 group, n = 16), were eligible. Phase 2/3 group patients were classified according to prior relapse, breakthrough, or non-response (null response, partial response, non-classifiable non-response) to PegIFNα/RBV. Eight patients in the Phase 1 group received short-term (≤14 days) simeprevir. Treatment comprised simeprevir 150 mg once daily (QD) plus PegIFNα-2a/RBV for 12 weeks followed by PegIFNα-2a/RBV for 12 or 36 weeks (using response-guided therapy RGT to determine total treatment duration in Phase 2/3 prior relapsers or breakthrough) or 36 weeks fixed (Phase 2/3 group non-responders and Phase 1 group). The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks after planned end of treatment (SVR12).
Phase 2/3 group: SVR12 rate was 69.6% (87/125) overall; 92.7% (51/55), 60.0% (6/10), 64.3% (18/28), and 36.7% (11/30) in patients with prior relapse, viral breakthrough, partial response, or null response, respectively. SVR12 rates were similar for patients with HCV GT1a (66.0% 33/50) and GT1b infection (72.0% 54/75) and among HCV GT1a-infected patients with/without a baseline Q80K polymorphism (66.7% 8/12 and 65.8% 25/38, respectively). The majority of RGT-eligible patients (prior viral relapse or breakthrough) met RGT criteria (89.2% 58/65); of these, 89.7% (52/58) achieved SVR12. Overall, 16.0% (20/125) of patients experienced on-treatment failure and 14.4% (18/125) experienced post-treatment failure (15 relapses, 3 missing data). Phase 1 group (simeprevir-naïve and -experienced patients combined): SVR12 rate was 37.5% (6/16). Safety and tolerability findings were comparable to those of the feeder studies.
The majority of RGT-eligible patients met criteria for shortening treatment to 24 weeks in total. Simeprevir 150 mg QD with PegIFNα-2a/RBV led to a high SVR rate among prior relapsers with HCV GT1 infection. No new safety signals were noted.
NCT01323244 . (date of registration: March 24, 2011).
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global problem. It may be caused by metabolic and hormonal disorders, including hypothyroidism. However, non-thyroid causes of NAFLD in people with ...hypothyroidism, including improper eating behavior and low physical activity, should be acknowledged. This study aimed to present the current literature on whether the development of NAFLD is related to hypothyroidism or a typical consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle in people with hypothyroidism. The results of previous studies do not allow for an unequivocal determination of the pathogenetic relationship between hypothyroidism and NAFLD. Important non-thyroid-initiating factors include providing too many calories in relation to requirements, consuming excessive amounts of monosaccharides and saturated fats, being overweight, and maintaining low physical activity levels. The recommended nutritional model for both hypothyroidism and NAFLD may be the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin E.
Progressive malnutrition coexists with liver diseases, particularly in patients with cirrhosis. Early diagnosis of malnutrition in patients with advanced stages of chronic liver disease and the ...implementation of appropriate nutritional treatment for malnourished patients should be an integral part of the therapeutic process.
To evaluate the nutritional status of patients with various severities of advanced liver fibrosis, using various nutritional status parameters.
This study involved 118 patients with liver cirrhosis who were classified into three groups according to their Child-Pugh score. The nutritional status of the patients in each group was assessed using different methods. The average values obtained from the measurements were calculated for each research group. The influence of disease stage on the examined parameters of nutritional status was determined using one-way analysis of variance. To investigate the relationship between the parameters determining nutritional status and the stage of disease advancement, a correlation analysis was performed.
The Child-Pugh A group had the highest mean body weight (76.42 kg), highest mean body mass index (BMI) (26.72 kg/m²), and largest mean arm circumference (27.64 cm). In the Child-Pugh B group, the mean scores of all examined variables were lower than those of the Child-Pugh A group, whereas the mean body weight and BMI of the Child-Pugh C group were higher than those of the Child-Pugh B group. There was a very strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and subjective global assessment score; a very strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and arm circumference; a strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and body weight, albumin concentration, fat-free mass index, muscle mass index, phase angle, and BMI; and an average correlation between Child-Pugh classification and fat mass index. Notably, these indicators deteriorated with disease progression.
Advanced liver fibrosis leads to the deterioration of many nutritional status parameters. The extent of malnutrition increases with the progression of liver fibrosis. The Child-Pugh score reflects the nutritional status.
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