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Tirmizi R, Munir R, Zaidi N. Trends in hepatitis C virus seroprevalence and associated risk factors among msm in Pakistan: insights from a community-based study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16551. [PMID: 39019899 PMCID: PMC11255259 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63351-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Pakistan bears a substantial burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with the second-highest prevalence globally. This community-based cross-sectional study, conducted from January to December 2022 in Punjab, Pakistan, investigates the seroprevalence of HCV among the men who have sex with men (MSM) population. The study identifies demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with HCV infection within this population group. Among the 501 participants, the study found an HCV seroprevalence of 14.86%. The association between demographic characteristics and seroprevalence is assessed by calculating the percentage of positive cases, revealing notable associations with age, education level, and self-identified sexual orientation. Furthermore, the study identified several behavioral risk factors positively associated with HCV seroprevalence, including sharing personal items such as razors and toothbrushes, histories of surgery, blood transfusion, dental procedures, intravenous drug use, and therapeutic injection histories. These risk factors were identified through structured interviews, and the prevalence of HCV seropositivity among the exposed groups was calculated accordingly. Interestingly, a lower HCV positivity rate was observed among self-reported HIV-positive individuals, contradicting previous research. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive, targeted prevention strategies such as risk factor awareness campaigns and educational programs tailored for the MSM population in Pakistan. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and better understand the complex interplay of factors contributing to HCV seroprevalence in this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raza Tirmizi
- Dostana Male Health Society, Lahore, Pakistan
- Action Research Collective, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Rimsha Munir
- Action Research Collective, Lahore, Pakistan
- Hormone Lab Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Nousheen Zaidi
- Cancer Biology Lab, Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
- Cancer Research Centre, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
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2
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Palladino C, Ramis R, Ezeonwumelu IJ, Biondi A, Carreras G, Fischer F, Gallus S, Golinelli D, Gorini G, Hassan S, Kabir Z, Koyanagi A, Lazarus JV, Mentis AFA, Meretoja TJ, Mokdad AH, Monasta L, Mulita F, Postma MJ, Tabarés-Seisdedos R, Thiyagarajan A, Taveira N, Briz V. Impact of the 2008 economic crisis on the burden of hepatitis B and C diseases in Southern European countries. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1642. [PMID: 38902642 PMCID: PMC11188182 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18912-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The economic crisis that began in 2008 has severely affected Southern (Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain) Western European (SWE) countries of Western Europe (WE) and may have affected ongoing efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of the economic crisis on the burden of HBV and HCV disease. METHODS Global Burden of Diseases 2019 data were used to analyse the rates of epidemiological metrics of HBV and HCV acute and chronic infections in SWE and WE. Time series modelling was performed to quantify the impact of healthcare expenditure on the time trend of HBV and HCV disease burden in 2000-2019. RESULTS Declining trends in incidence and prevalence rates of acute HBV (aHBV) and chronic HBV were observed in SWE and WE, with the pace of decline being slower in the post-austerity period (2010-2019) and mortality due to HBV stabilised in SWE. Acute HCV (aHCV) metrics and chronic HCV incidence and mortality showed a stable trend in SWE and WE, whereas the prevalence of chronic HCV showed an oscillating trend, decreasing in WE in 2010-2019 (p < 0.001). Liver cancer due to both hepatitis infections showed a stagnant burden over time. An inverse association was observed between health expenditure and metrics of both acute and chronic HBV and HCV. CONCLUSIONS Epidemiological metrics for HBV and HCV showed a slower pace of decline in the post-austerity period with better improvement for HBV, a stabilisation of mortality and a stagnant burden for liver cancer due to both hepatitis infections. The economic crisis of 2008 had a negative impact on the burden of hepatitis B and C. Elimination of HBV and HCV by 2030 will be a major challenge in the SWE countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Palladino
- Research Institute for Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, Lisbon, 1649-003, Portugal.
| | - Rebeca Ramis
- Nacional Center for Epidemiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ifeanyi Jude Ezeonwumelu
- Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias I Pujol, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
| | - Antonio Biondi
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giulia Carreras
- Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention, and Clinical Network, Florence, Italy
| | - Florian Fischer
- Institute of Public Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité Medical University Berlin), Berlin, Germany
| | - Silvano Gallus
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Mario, Italy
| | - Davide Golinelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gorini
- Oncological Network, Prevention and Research Institute, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention, and Clinical Network, Florence, Italy
| | - Shoaib Hassan
- Center for International Health (CIH), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Bergen Center for Ethics and Priority Setting (BCEPS), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Zubair Kabir
- School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- San Juan de Dios Sanitary Park, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Tuomo J Meretoja
- Breast Surgery Unit, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ali H Mokdad
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lorenzo Monasta
- Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Research Unit, Burlo Garofolo Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesk Mulita
- Department of Surgery, General University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Maarten J Postma
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Center of Excellence in Higher Education for Pharmaceutical Care Innovation, Universitas Padjadjaran (Padjadjaran University), Bandung, Indonesia
| | - Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos
- Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Carlos III Health Institute, Biomedical Research Networking Center for Mental Health Network (CiberSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Arulmani Thiyagarajan
- Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Nuno Taveira
- University Institute "Egas Moniz", Monte da Caparica, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Verónica Briz
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2.2, 28220, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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3
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Okano H, Mukai K, Nishimura A. Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment for Acute Hepatitis C in Japanese Patients: Clinical Course and Outcomes. Cureus 2024; 16:e61724. [PMID: 38975535 PMCID: PMC11225539 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
We diagnosed six cases of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at our hospital between October 2003 and December 2022. During the same period, we diagnosed 402 cases of chronic HCV infection and 636 cases of acute hepatic injury. Acute HCV infection cases accounted for 1.4% of all HCV infections and 0.9% of all acute hepatic injury cases. The acute HCV infection group was younger, had more severe hepatitis, and exhibited higher levels of bilirubinemia compared to the chronic HCV infection group. Two acute HCV infection cases achieved spontaneous viral clearance, while the remaining four cases progressed to chronic infection and were treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Liver enzyme elevation and liver function deterioration did not differ significantly between the acute HCV and other acute liver injury groups. Notably, DAA treatment was equally effective for acute and chronic HCV cases (75% vs. 90%, p = 0.34). Early DAA treatment in acute cases might contribute to interrupting viral transmission among high-risk populations, such as people who inject drugs or men who have sex with men. While there are currently no specific guidelines for acute HCV infection treatment in Japan, our findings suggest that DAA therapy should be initiated immediately following diagnosis. Further studies with larger patient cohorts are warranted to confirm these observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Okano
- Gastroenterology, Suzuka General Hospital, Suzuka, JPN
| | - Katsumi Mukai
- Gastroenterology, Suzuka General Hospital, Suzuka, JPN
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4
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Tai CM, Yu ML. Hepatitis C virus micro-elimination in people who inject drugs: Challenges and chance in Taiwan and worldwide. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2024; 40:112-118. [PMID: 38010851 DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
With the introduction of direct-acting antivirals, elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is becoming possible. People who inject drugs (PWID) represent a population with a high risk for HCV infection, which has been reported as high as 90% in Taiwanese PWID. To reach the goal of HCV elimination, PWID is a key population deserving special attention. Barriers in HCV care cascade still exist in PWID, and interventions to promote access to HCV diagnosis, link-to-care, treatment, and prevention for PWID are warranted. Although HCV micro-elimination can be achieved in some prisons and opioid substitution therapy (OST) centers by a multidisciplinary team and integrated care in Taiwan, there are still several unmet needs for HCV elimination in PWID. Continuous efforts, such as the participation of OST specialists and the continuum of care for HCV among PWID, are needed to achieve HCV elimination in Taiwan. In addition, the combination of harm reduction services, treatment as prevention and regular posttreatment HCV surveillance is critical to substantially reduce HCV transmission and prevalence in PWID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Ming Tai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- School of Medicine and Doctoral Program of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medicine and Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, College of Medicine, and Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Alghamdi AS, Alghamdi H, Alserehi HA, Babatin MA, Alswat KA, Alghamdi M, AlQutub A, Abaalkhail F, Altraif I, Alfaleh FZ, Sanai FM. SASLT guidelines: Update in treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, 2024. Saudi J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:S1-S42. [PMID: 38167232 PMCID: PMC10856511 DOI: 10.4103/sjg.sjg_333_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been a major global health concern, with a significant impact on public health. In recent years, there have been remarkable advancements in our understanding of HCV and the development of novel therapeutic agents. The Saudi Society for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation formed a working group to develop HCV practice guidelines in Saudi Arabia. The methodology used to create these guidelines involved a comprehensive review of available evidence, local data, and major international practice guidelines regarding HCV management. This updated guideline encompasses critical aspects of HCV care, including screening and diagnosis, assessing the severity of liver disease, and treatment strategies. The aim of this updated guideline is to assist healthcare providers in the management of HCV in Saudi Arabia. It summarizes the latest local studies on HCV epidemiology, significant changes in virus prevalence, and the importance of universal screening, particularly among high-risk populations. Moreover, it discusses the promising potential for HCV elimination as a public health threat by 2030, driven by effective treatment and comprehensive prevention strategies. This guideline also highlights evolving recommendations for advancing disease management, including the treatment of HCV patients with decompensated cirrhosis, treatment of those who have previously failed treatment with the newer medications, management in the context of liver transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma, and treatment for special populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah S. Alghamdi
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamdan Alghamdi
- Hepatology Section, Hepatobiliary Sciences and Organs Transplant Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haleema A. Alserehi
- General Directorate of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A. Babatin
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid A. Alswat
- Liver Disease Research Center, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alghamdi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, King Fahd Military Complex, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel AlQutub
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Abaalkhail
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Altraif
- Hepatology Section, Hepatobiliary Sciences and Organs Transplant Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Faisal M. Sanai
- Liver Disease Research Center, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Gastroenterology Section, Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Martínez-Riveros H, Martró E, Montoro-Fernandez M, Diaz Y, Muntada E, Romano-deGea P, Moreno-Fornés S, Mora R, Villegas L, Mena J, Roqueta Q, Hernández J, Vázquez M, Rius C, Román F, Not A, Muntané L, Colom J, Casabona J, Agustí C. An online hepatitis C virus self-sampling strategy for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and trans women: TESTATE C PLUS 2020-2021. J Evid Based Med 2023; 16:446-450. [PMID: 38146223 DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Martínez-Riveros
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Doctorate Program in Methodology of Biomedical Research and Public Health, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Preventive Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Badalona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
| | - Elisa Martró
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona (Barcelona), Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos Montoro-Fernandez
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
| | - Yesika Diaz
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esteve Muntada
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
| | - Pol Romano-deGea
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
| | - Sergio Moreno-Fornés
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Juanse Hernández
- Grupo de Trabajo sobre Tratamientos del VIH (gTt-VIH), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Vázquez
- Grupo de Trabajo sobre Tratamientos del VIH (gTt-VIH), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Rius
- Epidemiology Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisca Román
- Epidemiology Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Not
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona (Barcelona), Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Laura Muntané
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Joan Colom
- Programa de prevenció, control i atenció al virus d'immunodeficiència humana, les infeccions de transmissió sexual i les hepatitis víriques, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Casabona
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Cristina Agustí
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS of Catalonia, Ministry of Health of the Governmen of Catalonia, Badalona, Spain
- Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Tsai WC, Chiang HC, Chiu YC, Chien SC, Cheng PN, Chiu HC. Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge in Screening and Treatment. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1964. [PMID: 37895346 PMCID: PMC10608250 DOI: 10.3390/life13101964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
With the advent of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) in the recent few years, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become a curable infectious disease. Successful clearance of HCV could lead to improvement of both hepatic and extrahepatic outcomes, such as complications of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cardiovascular diseases, and incident diabetes. However, challenges persist in reaching the HCV elimination goals of the World Health Organization by 2030. Among these challenges are identifying those already infected or undiagnosed subjects, re-linking to the care of known but untreated HCV-infected subjects, and developing strategies to enhance treatment rates and compliance in specific or high-risk populations. In addition, issues of post-DAA viral clearance, including avoiding or preventing reinfection in high-risk populations and surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma, are important to consolidate the treatment's short- and long-term efficacies. In the current DAA era, treatment is the most effective prevention strategy not only in its excellent efficacy and safety but also in preventing HCV spread. All of the surveillance or measures should center on DAA treatment in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Pin-Nan Cheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan; (W.-C.T.); (H.-C.C.); (Y.-C.C.); (S.-C.C.)
| | - Hung-Chih Chiu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 704, Taiwan; (W.-C.T.); (H.-C.C.); (Y.-C.C.); (S.-C.C.)
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8
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Palma D, Alarcón M, García de Olalla P, Guerras JM, Pericas C, García J, Barberá MJ, Ayerdi O, Vera García M, Román-Urrestarazu A, Belza MJ, Rius C. Hepatitis C antibody prevalence and active hepatitis C infection in HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain (March 2018-March 2021). IJID REGIONS 2023; 8:95-104. [PMID: 37554356 PMCID: PMC10404990 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM), with an increased notification in HIV-negative MSM. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV antibody and active HCV infection in HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other MSM (GBMSM), and their characteristics, in Barcelona and Madrid, from March 2018 to March 2021. METHODS Cross-sectional study conducted on 3548 HIV-undiagnosed GBMSM, across four HIV/STI testing centers. Respondents submitted an online, self-administered questionnaire after consultation, which collected information on sociodemographics, sexual health history, HCV knowledge, and substance consumption. Prevalence of HCV antibodies was determined by a reactive result in a rapid anti-HCV test or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while active HCV infection was determined by participants who were also positive on an HCV-RNA test. Crude and adjusted Poisson analyses with robust variance are presented for both prevalence and active infection. RESULTS In total, 97.6% of participants (n = 3463) were HIV-negative. Of those, 18 were found to have HCV antibodies (0.52%), of which nine (0.26%) were also HCV-RNA positive. Those with HCV antibodies were associated to have lived with an HCV (+) person (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]: 7.84, [95% confidence interval: 2.50-24.53]), using injectable drugs for sex (APR: 6.92, [1.20-39.79]) and testing positive for an STI in the previous year (APR: 4.06, [1.09-15.12]). Presenting an active infection was strongly associated with a previous HCV diagnosis (APR: 100.82 [22.16-458.76]), sexualized injectable drug use (APR: 17.53 [2.70-113.76]), and sharing douching material (APR: 7.45, [2.12-25.95]). CONCLUSION Sexual practices with a higher risk of bleeding and sexualized drug use, particularly sexualized injectable drug use, were associated with higher rates of HCV diagnosis in GBMSM. Identifying these practices during consultation, contact tracing new cases and regularly testing those with a previous history of HCV, will facilitate HCV eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Palma
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
- Servei d'Epidemiología, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- International Health Department, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherland
| | - Miguel Alarcón
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
- Servei d'Epidemiología, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Preventive Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
| | - Patricia García de Olalla
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
- Servei d'Epidemiología, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (IRB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan-Miguel Guerras
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
- Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Pericas
- Servei d'Epidemiología, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Jorge García
- Unidad de STI y HIV Drassanes, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Oscar Ayerdi
- Centro Sanitario Sandoval, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Vera García
- Centro Sanitario Sandoval, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrés Román-Urrestarazu
- International Health Department, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherland
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - María José Belza
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
- Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Rius
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIBERESP, Madrid, Spain
- Servei d'Epidemiología, Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (IRB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
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9
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Chowdhary S, Deka R, Panda K, Kumar R, Solomon AD, Das J, Kanoujiya S, Gupta AK, Sinha S, Ruokolainen J, Kesari KK, Gupta PK. Recent Updates on Viral Oncogenesis: Available Preventive and Therapeutic Entities. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:3698-3740. [PMID: 37486263 PMCID: PMC10410670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c01080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Human viral oncogenesis is a complex phenomenon and a major contributor to the global cancer burden. Several recent findings revealed cellular and molecular pathways that promote the development and initiation of malignancy when viruses cause an infection. Even, antiviral treatment has become an approach to eliminate the viral infections and prevent the activation of oncogenesis. Therefore, for a better understanding, the molecular pathogenesis of various oncogenic viruses like, hepatitis virus, human immunodeficiency viral (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), could be explored, especially, to expand many potent antivirals that may escalate the apoptosis of infected malignant cells while sparing normal and healthy ones. Moreover, contemporary therapies, such as engineered antibodies antiviral agents targeting signaling pathways and cell biomarkers, could inhibit viral oncogenesis. This review elaborates the recent advancements in both natural and synthetic antivirals to control viral oncogenesis. The study also highlights the challenges and future perspectives of using antivirals in viral oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivam Chowdhary
- Department
of Industrial Microbiology, Sam Higginbottom
University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj 211007, Uttar Pradesh India
| | - Rahul Deka
- Department
of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla
Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi 835215, Jharkhand, India
| | - Kingshuk Panda
- Department
of Applied Microbiology, Vellore Institute
of Technology, Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rohit Kumar
- Department
of Life Sciences, Sharda School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Abhishikt David Solomon
- Department
of Molecular & Cellular Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Jimli Das
- Centre
for
Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Dibrugarh
University, Assam 786004, India
| | - Supriya Kanoujiya
- School
of
Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Ashish Kumar Gupta
- Department
of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Somya Sinha
- Department
of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to
Be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Janne Ruokolainen
- Department
of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto
University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
| | - Kavindra Kumar Kesari
- Department
of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto
University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
- Division
of Research and Development, Lovely Professional
University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India
| | - Piyush Kumar Gupta
- Department
of Life Sciences, Sharda School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department
of Biotechnology, Graphic Era Deemed to
Be University, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, India
- Faculty
of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International
University, Nilai 71800, Malaysia
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10
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Lindqvist K, Thorin Z, Kåberg M. Real-world hepatitis C treatment outcomes and reinfections among people who inject drugs at a needle and syringe program in Stockholm, Sweden. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:72. [PMID: 37308951 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00801-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who inject drugs (PWID) represent a population with an increased prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) infections. HCV treatment among PWID is essential to reach the WHO goal of eliminating HCV as a major public health threat by 2030. Despite better understanding of PWID subgroups and changes in risk behaviors over time, more knowledge about HCV treatment outcomes in different HCV prevalence populations and settings is warranted to enhance the continuum of care. METHODS All Stockholm Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) participants who initiated HCV treatment between October 2017 and June 2020 were HCV RNA tested at end of treatment and twelve weeks thereafter to confirm cure with a sustained virological response (SVR). All cured participants were prospectively followed from SVR to the last negative HCV RNA test or a subsequent reinfection, until October 31, 2021. RESULTS Overall, 409 NSP participants initiated HCV treatment, 162 at the NSP and 247 in another treatment setting. There were a total of 6.4% treatment dropouts (n = 26), 11.7% among participants treated at the NSP and 2.8% among those treated elsewhere (p < 0.001). Stimulant use (p < 0.05) and not being in an opioid agonist treatment program (p < 0.05) was associated with dropout. More participants treated outside the NSP were lost to follow-up between end of treatment and SVR (p < 0.05). During follow-up post-SVR, 43 reinfections occurred, corresponding to a reinfection rate of 9.3/100 PY (95% CI 7.0, 12.3). Factors associated with reinfection were younger age (p < 0.001), treatment while in prison (p < 0.01) and homelessness (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION In this high HCV prevalence NSP setting, with a majority of stimulant users, treatment success was high and the level of reinfections manageable. To reach HCV elimination, there is a need to target specific PWID subgroups for HCV treatment, in both harm reduction and adjacent healthcare settings frequented by PWID.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Lindqvist
- Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Needle Syringe Program, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Z Thorin
- Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Needle Syringe Program, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Kåberg
- Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Needle Syringe Program, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sprututbytet, S:t Görans Sjukhus, Akutvägen 29, 112 81, Stockholm, Sweden.
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11
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Ivashkin VT, Chulanov VP, Mamonova NA, Maevskaya MV, Zharkova MS, Tikhonov IN, Bogomolov PO, Volchkova EV, Dmitriev AS, Znojko OO, Klimova EA, Kozlov KV, Kravchenko IE, Malinnikova EY, Maslennikov RV, Mikhailov MI, Novak KE, Nikitin IG, Syutkin VE, Esaulenko EV, Sheptulin AA, Shirokova EN, Yushchuk ND. Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Russian Society for the Study of the Liver, the Russian Gastroenterological Association, the National Scientific Society of Infectious Disease Specialists for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, HEPATOLOGY, COLOPROCTOLOGY 2023; 33:84-124. [DOI: 10.22416/1382-4376-2023-33-1-84-124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2024]
Abstract
Аim:diagnosis and treatment algorithms in the clinical recommendations intended for general practitioners, gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, hepatologists on the of chronic hepatitis C are presented.Summary.Chronic viral hepatitis C is a socially significant infection, the incidence of which in the Russian Federation remains significantly high. Over the past 10 years, great progress has been made in the treatment of hepatitis C — direct acting antiviral drugs have appeared. The spectrum of their effectiveness allows to achieve a sustained virological response in more than 90 % of cases, even in groups that were not previously considered even as candidates for therapy or were difficult to treat — patients receiving renal replacement therapy, after liver transplantation (or other organs), at the stage of decompensated liver cirrhosis, HIV co-infected, etc. Interferons are excluded from the recommendations due to their low effectiveness and a wide range of adverse events. The indications for the treatment have been expanded, namely, the fact of confirmation of viral replication. The terms of dispensary observation of patients without cirrhosis of the liver have been reduced (up to 12 weeks after the end of therapy). Also, these recommendations present approaches to active screening of hepatitis in risk groups, preventive and rehabilitation measures after the end of treatment.Conclusion.Great success has been achieved in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. In most cases, eradication of viral HCV infection is a real task even in patients at the stage of cirrhosis of the liver, with impaired renal function, HIV co-infection, after solid organs transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. T. Ivashkin
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - V. P. Chulanov
- Center for Epidemiologically Significant Infectious Diseases, National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases
| | - N. A. Mamonova
- Center for Epidemiologically Significant Infectious Diseases, National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases
| | - M. V. Maevskaya
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - M. S. Zharkova
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - I. N. Tikhonov
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - P. O. Bogomolov
- M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute
| | - E. V. Volchkova
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - A. S. Dmitriev
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - O. O. Znojko
- Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry
| | | | | | | | - E. Yu. Malinnikova
- Department of Virology, Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education
| | - R. V. Maslennikov
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - M. I. Mikhailov
- North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov
| | | | | | - V. E. Syutkin
- Sklifosovsky Clinical and Research Institute for Emergency Medicine; Russian State Research Center — Burnazyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center
| | | | - A. A. Sheptulin
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - E. N. Shirokova
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
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12
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Bhattacharya D, Aronsohn A, Price J, Lo Re V. Hepatitis C Guidance 2023 Update: AASLD-IDSA Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Clin Infect Dis 2023:ciad319. [PMID: 37229695 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases have collaboratively developed evidence-based guidance regarding the diagnosis, management, and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection since 2013. A panel of clinicians and investigators with extensive infectious diseases or hepatology expertise specific to HCV infection periodically review evidence from the field and update existing recommendations or introduce new recommendations as evidence warrants. This update focuses on changes to the guidance since the previous 2020 published update, including ongoing emphasis on recommended universal screening; management recommendations for incomplete treatment adherence; expanded eligibility for simplified chronic HCV infection treatment in adults with minimal monitoring; updated treatment and retreatment recommendations for children as young as 3 years old; management and treatment recommendations in the transplantation setting; and screening, treatment, and management recommendations for unique and key populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debika Bhattacharya
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Andrew Aronsohn
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Chicago
| | - Jennifer Price
- Division of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Vincent Lo Re
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
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13
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Ghosh A, Mahintamani T, Premkumar M, Basu D, Singh V, Duseja A, Subodh Bn, Mohindra R, Sharma A, Arora SK. Multidisciplinary and Integrated Treatment for Substance Use Disorders and Hepatitis C in an Addiction Treatment Service in India. Indian J Psychol Med 2023; 45:193-197. [PMID: 36925497 PMCID: PMC10011856 DOI: 10.1177/02537176221086013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Ghosh
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Drug De-Addiction and Treatment Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Tathagata Mahintamani
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Drug De-Addiction and Treatment Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Madhumita Premkumar
- Dept. of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Debasish Basu
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - V Singh
- Dept. of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ajay Duseja
- Dept. of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Subodh Bn
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Drug De-Addiction and Treatment Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ritin Mohindra
- Dept. of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Aman Sharma
- Dept. of Internal Medicine, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Services, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sunil K Arora
- Dept. of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
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14
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Siegele-Brown C, Siegele-Brown M, Cook C, Khakoo SI, Parkes J, Wright M, Buchanan RM. Testing to sustain hepatitis C elimination targets in people who inject drugs: A network-based model. J Viral Hepat 2023; 30:242-249. [PMID: 36529668 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the level of testing required to sustain elimination of hepatitis C (HCV), once achieved. In this study, we model the testing coverage required to maintain HCV elimination in an injecting network of people who inject drugs (PWID). We test the hypothesis that network-based strategies are a superior approach to deliver testing. We created a dynamic injecting network structure connecting 689 PWID based on empirical data. The primary outcome was the testing coverage required per month to maintain prevalence at the elimination threshold over 5 years. We compared four testing strategies. Without any testing or treatment provision, the prevalence of HCV increased from the elimination threshold (11.68%) to a mean of 25.4% (SD 2.96%) over the 5-year period. To maintain elimination with random testing, on average, 4.96% (SD 0.83%) of the injecting network needs to be tested per month. However, with a 'bring your friends' strategy, this was reduced to 3.79% (SD 0.64%) of the network (p < .001). The addition of contact tracing improved the efficiency of both strategies. In conclusion, we report that network-based approaches to testing such as 'bring a friend' initiatives and contact tracing lower the level of testing coverage required to maintain elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloë Siegele-Brown
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Charlotte Cook
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Salim I Khakoo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Julie Parkes
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Mark Wright
- University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Ryan M Buchanan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, Southampton, UK
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15
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Xu Z, Wei D, Zhang H, Demongeot J. A Novel Mathematical Model That Predicts the Protection Time of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020586. [PMID: 36851801 PMCID: PMC9962246 DOI: 10.3390/v15020586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2 pose a considerable threat to public health. Constructing a reliable mathematical model helps us quantitatively explain the kinetic characteristics of antibody-virus interactions. A novel and robust model is developed to integrate antibody dynamics with virus dynamics based on a comprehensive understanding of immunology principles. This model explicitly formulizes the pernicious effect of the antibody, together with a positive feedback stimulation of the virus-antibody complex on the antibody regeneration. Besides providing quantitative insights into antibody and virus dynamics, it demonstrates good adaptivity in recapturing the virus-antibody interaction. It is proposed that the environmental antigenic substances help maintain the memory cell level and the corresponding neutralizing antibodies secreted by those memory cells. A broader application is also visualized in predicting the antibody protection time caused by a natural infection. Suitable binding antibodies and the presence of massive environmental antigenic substances would prolong the protection time against breakthrough infection. The model also displays excellent fitness and provides good explanations for antibody selection, antibody interference, and self-reinfection. It helps elucidate how our immune system efficiently develops neutralizing antibodies with good binding kinetics. It provides a reasonable explanation for the lower SARS-CoV-2 mortality in the population that was vaccinated with other vaccines. It is inferred that the best strategy for prolonging the vaccine protection time is not repeated inoculation but a directed induction of fast-binding antibodies. Eventually, this model will inform the future construction of an optimal mathematical model and help us fight against those infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaobin Xu
- Department of Life Science, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China
- Correspondence: (Z.X.); (J.D.)
| | - Dongqing Wei
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- Department of Life Science, Dezhou University, Dezhou 253023, China
| | - Jacques Demongeot
- Laboratory AGEIS EA 7407, Team Tools for e-Gnosis Medical, Faculty of Medicine, University Grenoble Alpes (UGA), 38700 La Tronche, France
- Correspondence: (Z.X.); (J.D.)
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16
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Tergast TL, Protzer U, Zeuzem S, Heitmann L, Sarrazin C, Lehmann M, Ingiliz P, Cornberg M, Zimmermann R, Gerlich MG, Buggisch P, Wiebner B, Wedemeyer H. [Strategietreffen: Virushepatitis in Deutschland eliminieren]. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GASTROENTEROLOGIE 2023; 61:198-201. [PMID: 36736343 PMCID: PMC9897951 DOI: 10.1055/a-1978-9021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T L Tergast
- Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover
| | - U Protzer
- Institut für Virologie, Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Zentrum München, München
| | - S Zeuzem
- Medizinische Klinik I Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie, Pneumologie, Endokrinologie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Deutschland
| | - L Heitmann
- Mitglied des deutschen Bundestages, Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin
| | - C Sarrazin
- Medizinische Klinik II, Innere Medizin, St. Josefs-Hospital Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - M Lehmann
- Justizvollzugskrankenhaus JVA Plötzensee, Saatwinkler Damm 1A, 13627 Berlin, Germany
| | - P Ingiliz
- Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor
| | - M Cornberg
- Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover
- Deutsche Leberstiftung, Hannover, Germany
| | - R Zimmermann
- Abteilung für Infektionsepidemiologie, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - M G Gerlich
- Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung, Köln
| | - P Buggisch
- ifi-Institut für interdisziplinäre Medizin, Hamburg
| | - B Wiebner
- Deutsche Leberstiftung, Hannover, Germany
| | - H Wedemeyer
- Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover
- Deutsche Leberstiftung, Hannover, Germany
- Hepatitis B and C Public Policy Association (HepBCPPA)
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17
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Not A, Saludes V, Gálvez M, Miralpeix A, Bordoy AE, González N, González-Gómez S, Muntané L, Reyes-Urueña J, Majó X, Colom J, Forns X, Lens S, Martró E. Usefulness of dried blood spot samples for monitoring hepatitis C treatment outcome and reinfection among people who inject drugs in a test-and-treat program. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28544. [PMID: 36727653 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Dried blood spots (DBS) are a reliable tool to diagnose viremic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We evaluated the clinical performance of a DBS-based molecular assay for the assessment of cure and reinfection after on-site treatment at a harm reduction center (HRC). Genotyping from DBS samples was also assessed to discriminate reinfection from treatment failure. People who inject drugs (PWID) from an ongoing test-and-treat pilot at the largest HRC in Barcelona were included in the study. HCV-RNA detection from DBS collected after treatment (with follow-up at 12, 36, and 60 weeks) was compared with a molecular point-of-care test using finger-stick blood (GeneXpert). Baseline and follow-up DBS samples were genotyped by NS5B sequencing or commercial real-time PCR. Among treated patients, 193 follow-up DBS samples were tested. The DBS-based assay showed 100% specificity (129/129), and sensitivity ranged from 84.4% to 96.1% according to different viral load cut-offs (from detectable to 3000 IU/mL). Sensitivity as test of cure (follow-up 12) ranged from 85.1% to 97.4%. Among the 64 patients with recurrent viremia, 10.9% had low viral loads (≤1000 IU/mL); HCV genotyping allowed us to classify 73.5% of viremic cases either as reinfection or as treatment failure. DBS samples are useful to assess cure and differentiate reinfection from relapse after HCV antiviral treatment in the real world, facilitating decentralization of treatment and posttreatment follow-up in PWID. However, a fraction of patients presented with low viral loads, limiting viremia detection and genotyping in DBS and, therefore, repeat testing is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Not
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Genetics and Microbiology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Verónica Saludes
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mont Gálvez
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Miralpeix
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni E Bordoy
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | | | - Sara González-Gómez
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Laura Muntané
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Juliana Reyes-Urueña
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Epidemiological Studies on HIV/AIDS and STIs of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), ASPCAT, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Majó
- Program for the Prevention, Control and Care of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya (ASPCAT), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Colom
- Program for the Prevention, Control and Care of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya (ASPCAT), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Forns
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sabela Lens
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Martró
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Genetics and Microbiology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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18
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Seroprevalence and risk factors for Kaposi's Sarcoma associated herpesvirus among men who have sex with men in Shanghai, China. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:59. [PMID: 36721125 PMCID: PMC9887846 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08028-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to facilitate the understanding of the transmission route and risk factors that might contribute to the infection of Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) among men who have sex with men (MSM). METHODS A cross-sectional study of 520 subjects was conducted in Shanghai, China in 2020. Plasma samples were collected and screened for KSHV, HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore potential correlates of KSHV infection. RESULTS The overall seroprevalence of KSHV was 43.8%, with an adjusted value of 29.8% according to the sensitivity and specificity of the KSHV screening assay. Individuals with lower levels of monthly income (Chi-sqauretrend = 4.11, P = 0.043) and more male sex partners (Chi-sqauretrend = 6.06, P = 0.014) were more likely to be infected with KSHV. Also, KSHV seropositivity was positively associated with being a student (aOR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.09-3.61), being coinfected with HCV (aOR = 2.61; 95%CI: 1.05-7.10), and syphilis (aOR = 2.91; 95%CI: 1.30-6.89). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of KSHV in MSM remains high. As a risky sexual behavior, having multiple male sex partners is a key contributor to KSHV infection among this population. Efforts designed to control modifiable risk factors in order to reduce the burden of KSHV infection are indispensable. High KSHV seroprevalence among students MSM deserves more attention.
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Jadoul M, Awan A, Berenguer M, Bruchfeld A, Fabrizi F, Goldberg D, Jia J, Kamar N, Mohamed R, Pessôa M, Pol S, Sise M, Martin P. KDIGO 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline FOR the Prevention, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hepatitis C in Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int 2022; 102:S129-S205. [PMID: 36410841 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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20
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Sælør KT, Carlsen SEL, Fadnes LT, Lorås L. Experiences of Hope after Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection-A Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15732. [PMID: 36497807 PMCID: PMC9738947 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of hope people had after undergoing treatment for a hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Between October 2019 and May 2020, 19 one-on-one interviews were conducted with people who inject drugs and had undergone HCV treatment. All participants had completed treatment and were documented as being virus-free. Data were audio recorded and then transcribed verbatim and analysed; a method inspired by reflexive thematic analysis. Those interviewed conveyed rich and nuanced descriptions of experiences of a life with HCV. Through the course of the analysis we developed four themes. The themes were formulated as metaphors aimed at capturing commonalities about how the participants seemed to "turn their gaze" after receiving HCV treatment: (1) turning their gaze backward; (2) turning their gaze inwards; (3) turning their gaze toward others and (4) turning their gaze forward. Participants' descriptions of their experiences relating to HCV were somewhat gloomy, and HCV treatment seemed to inspire hope and a brighter outlook on several areas of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Knut Tore Sælør
- Department of Health, Social and Welfare Studies, Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3007 Drammen, Norway
| | | | - Lars Thore Fadnes
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Lennart Lorås
- Department of Welfare and Participation, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, 5063 Bergen, Norway
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Chen B, Gao LY, Ma ZH, Chang H, Pei LJ, Zhou Q, Xing WG. The signal-to-cutoff ratios to predict HCV infection among people who inject drugs. Virusdisease 2022; 33:363-370. [PMID: 36278030 PMCID: PMC9579682 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-022-00797-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
People who inject drugs (PWIDs) are primarily the high-risk population for HCV infection. This study aims to determine the optimal cut-off values for predicting HCV infection status based on the Signal-to-Cutoff (S/CO) ratio. In this study, a total of 719 PWIDs’ samples were collected, and performed for screening test by ELISA assay, and followed by RIBA assay and NAT assay to detect HCV antibody and HCV RNA levels, respectively. The findings revealed that the prevalence of HCV infection among PWIDs was 54.66% (393/719), and the false-positive rate of HCV antibody detection by ELISA assay among PWIDs was only 3.85% (16/416). In addition, when the optimal cut-off value for S/CO ratio was 2.0, the sensitivity and specificity of HCV antibody were 100.00% and 93.55%, respectively. And when the optimal cut-off value for S/CO ratio was 21.36, the sensitivity and specificity of HCV RNA positive were 89.90% and 72.73%, respectively. In conclusion, the status of HCV infection can be predicted based on the S/CO ratios of the ELISA assay, which can improve diagnosis and facilitate timely treatment to effectively prevent the spread of HCV infection.
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22
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Lens S, Miralpeix A, Gálvez M, Martró E, González N, Rodríguez-Tajes S, Mariño Z, Saludes V, Reyes-Urueña J, Majó X, Colom J, Forns X. HCV microelimination in harm reduction centres has benefits beyond HCV cure but is hampered by high reinfection rates. JHEP Rep 2022; 4:100580. [PMID: 36316992 PMCID: PMC9617206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Significant scale-up of treatment among people who inject drugs (PWID) is crucial to achieve WHO HCV elimination targets. We explored the impact of on-site HCV diagnosis and treatment on PWID in an externalised hepatology clinic at the biggest harm reduction centre (HRC) in Barcelona attending to a marginalised PWID population with ongoing high-risk practices. Methods On-site HCV point-of-care testing was performed for diagnosis and treatment delivery. HCV-RNA was assessed at SVR12 (sustained virologic response at 12 weeks) and every 6 months. The programme included behavioural questionnaires at baseline and after treatment. Results Between 2018 and 2020, 919 individuals were prospectively enrolled. Of these, only 46% accepted HCV screening. HCV-RNA+ prevalence was 55.7% (n = 234). Of the 168 (72%) individuals starting treatment, 48% were foreigners, 32% homeless, 73% unemployed, and 62% had a history of incarceration. At enrolment, 70% injected drugs daily and 30% reported sharing needles or paraphernalia. Intention-to-treat SVR12 was 60%; only 4% were virological failures, the remaining were either early reinfections (20%) or losses to follow-up (16%). The overall reinfection rate during follow-up was 31/100 persons/year. HIV coinfection and daily injection were associated with a higher risk of reinfection. Nonetheless, beyond viral clearance, antiviral therapy was associated with a significant reduction in injection frequency, risk practices, and homelessness. Conclusions HCV treatment can be successfully delivered to active PWID with high-risk practices and has a significant benefit beyond HCV elimination. However, approaching this difficult spectrum of the PWID population implies significant barriers such as low rate of screening acceptance and high dropout and reinfection rates. Lay summary People who inject drugs attending harm reduction centres represent the most difficult population to treat for hepatitis C. We show that hepatitis C treatment has a significant benefit beyond viral cure, including improving quality of life, and decreasing injection frequency and risk practices. However, intrinsic barriers and the high reinfection rates hamper the achievement of viral microelimination in this setting. HCV treatment can be successfully delivered to active PWID with high-risk practices. HCV treatment has benefits beyond sustained virological response. PWID reported lower injection frequency and risk practices after engaging in the HCV programme. However, linkage-to-care for PWID attending harm reduction centres is challenging. The high dropout and reinfection rates hamper HCV microelimination in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabela Lens
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Corresponding author. Address: Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, C/Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. Tel.: +34 227 5400, (ext.) 2093.
| | - Anna Miralpeix
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mont Gálvez
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Martró
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemi González
- REDAN La Mina, Parc de Salut Mar Barcelona, Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Rodríguez-Tajes
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Zoe Mariño
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Verónica Saludes
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut d’Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juliana Reyes-Urueña
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies of Sexually Transmitted Disease and AIDS in Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Generalitat de Catalunya, Badalona, Spain
| | - Xavier Majó
- Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT), Government of Catalonia, Programme for Prevention, Control and Treatment of HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Colom
- Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT), Government of Catalonia, Programme for Prevention, Control and Treatment of HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Forns
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
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Marshall AD, Martinello M, Treloar C, Matthews GV. Perceptions of hepatitis C treatment and reinfection risk among HIV-positive men who have sex with men and engage in high risk behaviours for hepatitis C transmission: The CEASE qualitative study. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 109:103828. [PMID: 35994937 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, treatment uptake for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among HIV-HCV coinfected men who have sex with men (MSM) has substantially increased since the advent of interferon-free direct-acting antivirals (DAA). However, HIV-positive MSM who engage in high risk behaviours are at an increased risk of HCV reinfection post-treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate perceptions of HCV diagnosis, treatment and reinfection risk among HCV-HIV coinfected MSM who engage in drug use and/or high risk sexual behavior in Sydney, Australia. METHODS Participants were recruited from the Control and Elimination within AuStralia of HEpatitis C from people living with HIV (CEASE) cohort (n=402) who reported engaging in drug use and/or high risk sexual behavior for transmission of HCV infection. Participants were interviewed about their perceptions of HCV diagnosis, treatment, and reinfection risk. Interview data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. RESULTS Of 33 participants interviewed (mean age 49 years), many participants were 'shocked' by their HCV diagnosis. Participants who believed they acquired HCV infection through sexual exposure felt it was important that their healthcare practitioner agreed with their perspective to mitigate stigmatizing experiences. Overall, participants expressed high satisfaction with their treatment experience due to long-standing therapeutic relationships with their HIV physician. Many participants expressed knowledge of how to prevent HCV reinfection from injection drug use, yet other than condom usage, most were unsure how to reduce high risk sexual activity with such discussions occurring less frequently with healthcare practitioners. CONCLUSION Findings indicate that MSM who engage in drug use and high risk sexual activity would benefit from additional education on reducing reinfection risk through sexual activity and services to reduce substance use, if requested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison D Marshall
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | | | - Carla Treloar
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence, RNA detection, and genotype distribution across Florida, 2015-2018. Prev Med 2022; 161:107136. [PMID: 35803347 PMCID: PMC9598903 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the U.S. Due to high rates of HCV among baby boomers (born 1945-1965), it was recommended they receive universal screening. This was expanded to all U.S. adults in 2020 due to evidence of increasing rates of chronic HCV in younger adults. An assessment of HCV burden across demographics is crucial to understand the future burden of HCC and target under-screened adults for HCV. Using the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium, of more than one million individuals in Florida, all HCV antibody and viral RNA tests completed from 2015 to 2018 were identified. HCV seroprevalence, HCV viral load (active infection), and HCV genotype distribution by risk groups were assessed. Overall, HCV seroprevalence and active infection were highest among White non-Hispanic individuals, males, and baby boomers. However, odds of a positive HCV antibody test were higher among Black non-Hispanic individuals born before 1945 (aOR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.98-3.78) or 1945-1965 (aOR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.36-1.56) compared to White non-Hispanic individuals. In contrast, among individuals born after 1965, Black non-Hispanics were less likely than White non-Hispanics to test HCV antibody positive (aOR of 0.5-0.28). A similar age/race pattern was observed for active HCV infection. There was a higher prevalence of genotype 1A and 3 and lower prevalence of 1B in younger adults. Patterns of HCV seroprevalence and active HCV infection identified in our study support the recent shift from age and risk-based screening guidelines to universal adult screening.
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25
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Sahibzada KI, Ganova-Raeva L, Dimitrova Z, Ramachandran S, Lin Y, Longmire G, Arthur L, Xia GL, Khudyakov Y, Khan I, Sadaf S. Hepatitis C virus transmission cluster among injection drug users in Pakistan. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270910. [PMID: 35839216 PMCID: PMC9286280 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are public health problem across the globe, particularly in developing countries. Pakistan has the second highest prevalence of HCV infection worldwide. Limited data exist from Pakistan about persons who inject drugs (PWID) and are at significant risk of exposure to HCV infection and transmission. Serum specimens (n = 110) collected from PWID residing in four provinces were tested for molecular markers of HCV infection. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the hypervariable region (HVR1) of HCV and Global Hepatitis Outbreak and Surveillance Technology (GHOST) were used to determine HCV genotype, genetic heterogeneity, and construct transmission networks. Among tested specimens, 47.3% were found anti-HCV positive and 34.6% were HCV RNA-positive and belonged to four genotypes, with 3a most prevalent followed by 1a, 1b and 4a. Variants sampled from five cases formed phylogenetic cluster and a transmission network. One case harbored infection with two different genotypes. High prevalence of infections and presence of various genotypes indicate frequent introduction and transmission of HCV among PWID in Pakistan. Identification of a transmission cluster across three provinces, involving 20% of all cases, suggests the existence of a countrywide transmission network among PWIDs. Understanding the structure of this network should assist in devising effective public health strategies to eliminate HCV infection in Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashif Iqbal Sahibzada
- School of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Lilia Ganova-Raeva
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Zoya Dimitrova
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Sumathi Ramachandran
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Yulin Lin
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Garrett Longmire
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Leonard Arthur
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Guo-liang Xia
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Yury Khudyakov
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Molecular Epidemiology and Bioinformatics, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Idrees Khan
- University of Peshawar, Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan
| | - Saima Sadaf
- School of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
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Zhao Z, Chu M, Guo Y, Yang S, Abudurusuli G, Frutos R, Chen T. Feasibility of Hepatitis C Elimination in China: From Epidemiology, Natural History, and Intervention Perspectives. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:884598. [PMID: 35722351 PMCID: PMC9201439 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.884598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C imposes a heavy burden on many countries, including China, where the number of reported cases and the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) increased yearly from 2005 to 2012, with a stable trend after 2012. The geographical distribution of HCV infections varies widely in China, with the northwest and southwest regions and the Henan Province showing a high disease burden. Elderly, men, sexually active people, drug users, migrants, blood transfusion recipients, and renal dialysis patients have become the target populations for hepatitis C prevention and control. It is important to improve the diagnosis rate in high-risk groups and asymptomatic people. Identifying secondary HCV infections, especially in HCV patients co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a priority of hepatitis C prevention and control. Enhancing universal access to direct antiviral agents (DAAs) treatment regimens is an effective way to improve the cure rate of HCV infection. For China to contribute to the WHO 2030 global HCV elimination plan, strategic surveillance, management, and treatment program for HCV are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- CIRAD, Intertryp, Montpellier, France
| | - Meijie Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yichao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Shiting Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Guzainuer Abudurusuli
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | | | - Tianmu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Viera A, Grau LE, Fisher JD, Farnum SO, Tetrault JM, Scott G, Heimer R. Development and pilot-testing of a hepatitis C reinfection prevention intervention for patients in treatment for hepatitis C infection. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2022; 3:100038. [PMID: 36845980 PMCID: PMC9948939 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
•We developed a two-session behavioral intervention to prevent HCV reinfection.•The intervention was piloted at an OTP and integrated into HCV treatment.•Baseline data showed limited knowledge & application of safer injection practices.•Implementation barriers included logistics and the lack of financial incentive.•Adaptations addressed barriers, yielding a more feasible and acceptable intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Viera
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Corresponding author.
| | - Lauretta E. Grau
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Fisher
- Department of Psychological Sciences and the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT USA
| | | | - Jeanette M. Tetrault
- Department of Internal Medicine and the Yale Addiction Medicine Program, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Greg Scott
- Department of Sociology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Robert Heimer
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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Guerra K, Bocour A, Moore MS, Winters A. Detection of Recurrent Hepatitis C Viremia Using Surveillance Data, New York City. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2022; 28:126-129. [PMID: 32956285 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of direct-acting antivirals for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has greatly improved cure rates. However, persons with past HCV infection who engage in high-risk behaviors can be reinfected. Surveillance data from the New York City (NYC) Health Department were used to detect and investigate individuals cured during January 2014 to December 2016 who had a subsequent positive RNA test (recurrence) by April 2018. Clinical interpretation of recurrence was obtained using provider interviews and review of medical records available through Regional Health Information Organizations. Among 6938 cured individuals, 209 recurrence events were detected (2.7 per 100 person-years). Investigations were completed for 62 (30%) events. Of 38 investigated events occurring less than 12 months postcure, 17 (45%) were relapses; of 24 events occurring 12 or more months postcure, only one (4%) was a relapse. Understanding the timing, frequency, and clinical interpretation of HCV recurrence will guide HCV prevention and elimination efforts for NYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Guerra
- Bureau of Communicable Disease, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, New York
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Cuesta-Sancho S, Márquez-Coello M, Illanes-Álvarez F, Márquez-Ruiz D, Arizcorreta A, Galán-Sánchez F, Montiel N, Rodriguez-Iglesias M, Girón-González JA. Hepatitis C: Problems to extinction and residual hepatic and extrahepatic lesions after sustained virological response. World J Hepatol 2022; 14:62-79. [PMID: 35126840 PMCID: PMC8790402 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v14.i1.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of follow-up or reinfections hinder the expectations of hepatitis C eradication despite the existence of highly effective treatments. Moreover, the elimination of the infection does not imply the reversion of those chronic alterations derived from the previous infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV). This review analyzes the risk factors associated with loss to follow-up in diagnosis or treatment, and the possibility of reinfection. Likewise, it assesses the residual alterations induced by chronic HCV infection considering the liver alterations (inflammation, fibrosis, risk of decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation) and, on the other hand, the comorbidities and extrahepatic manifestations (cryoglobulinemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, peripheral insulin resistance, and lipid, bone and cognitive alterations). Peculiarities present in subjects coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus are analyzed in each section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Cuesta-Sancho
- Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - Mercedes Márquez-Coello
- Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - Francisco Illanes-Álvarez
- Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - Denisse Márquez-Ruiz
- Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - Ana Arizcorreta
- Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - Fátima Galán-Sánchez
- Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - Natalia Montiel
- Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - Manuel Rodriguez-Iglesias
- Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
| | - José-Antonio Girón-González
- Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz 11009, Spain
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30
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Zheng Y, Ying M, Zhou Y, Lin Y, Ren J, Wu J. Global Burden and Changing Trend of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative MSM: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:774793. [PMID: 34966758 PMCID: PMC8710739 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.774793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The disease burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) is changing. We aim to provide an updated comprehensive estimate of HCV prevalence and incidence among the HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM population at the country, regional, and global levels and their changing trends over time. Methods: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and conference databases were searched and eligible records on the prevalence and incidence of HCV antibodies were selected and pooled via a random-effects model. Meta-regression was performed to demonstrate the association between the pooled rates and study year. Results: A total of 230 articles reporting 245 records from 51 countries with 445,883 participants and 704,249 follow-up person-years were included. The pooled prevalence of HCV in MSM was 5.9% (95% CI: 5.1-6.8), with substantial differences between countries and regions. Low- and lower-middle-income countries (12.3 and 7.0%) manifested a larger disease burden than high- and upper-middle-income countries (5.8 and 3.8%). HCV prevalence in HIV-positive MSM was substantially higher than in HIV-negative MSM (8.1 vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). The pooled incidence of HCV was 8.6 (95% CI: 7.2-10.0) per 1,000 person-years, with an increasing trend over time, according to meta-regression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Global HCV prevalence in MSM varies by region and HIV status. Behavior counseling and regular HCV monitoring are needed in HIV-positive subgroups and high-risk regions. Given the upward trend of HCV incidence and sexual risk behaviors, there is also a continued need to reinforce risk-reduction intervention. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020211028; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meike Ying
- Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuqing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yushi Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Ren
- Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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31
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Caven M, Baiano CX, Robinson EM, Stephens B, Macpherson I, Dillon JF. Hepatitis C reinfection by treatment pathway among people who inject drugs in Tayside, Scotland. J Viral Hepat 2021; 28:1744-1750. [PMID: 34525228 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) provides an excellent opportunity to scale up HCV diagnosis and treatment, achieving the WHO target of HCV elimination by 2030. However, HCV reinfection among people who inject drugs (PWID) remains a concern and may impede elimination efforts. We assessed reinfection rates among PWID across six specialized treatment pathways, following DAA-based and interferon-based therapies in Tayside, Scotland. Data were collected retrospectively for every treatment episode that resulted in a sustained viral response (SVR) after undergoing treatment. Reinfection rates were calculated for each treatment pathway: hospital outpatient clinic; community pharmacy; drug treatment outreach; prison clinic; nurse-led outreach clinic; and injection equipment provision site. Reinfection is defined as a positive RNA test result after SVR. Incidences of reinfection are expressed in 100 person-years (PYs). In total, 916 treatment episodes met selection criteria. Of these, 100 reinfections were identified, generating an overall reinfection rate of 5.27 per 100 PYs (95%CI: 4.36-6.38). The hospital outpatient clinic had the lowest reinfection incidence (1.81 per 100 PYs, 95%CI: 1.11-2.93), with the injection equipment provision site treatment pathway having the highest reinfection incidence (19.89 per 100 PYs, 95%CI: 14.91-26.54). The incidence of reinfection among those treated with interferon-based therapies and those treated with DAA-based therapies was 4.93 per 100 PYs (95%CI: 3.97-6.11) and 7.17 per 100 PYs (95%CI: 4.75-10.82), respectively. Specialized treatment pathways in Tayside yield varying reinfection incidence rates, with different subpopulations of patients at varying risk of reinfection post-SVR. Results suggest that resources should be targeted at the injection equipment provision site pathway in order to reduce the incidence of reinfection and achieve elimination targets. The study found comparable rates of reinfection following interferon-based and DAA-based therapies, providing support for widening access to treatment services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Caven
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Cassandra X Baiano
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Emma M Robinson
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.,Department of Gastroenterology, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Stephens
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Iain Macpherson
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - John F Dillon
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.,Department of Gastroenterology, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, United Kingdom
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32
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Pro G, Tompkins DA, Azari S, Zaller N. National trends in testing for hepatitis C virus in licensed opioid treatment programs: Differences by facility ownership and state medicaid expansion status. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 228:109092. [PMID: 34571287 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The recent surge in hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence is primarily due to increased injection drug use. Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are a major source of treatment for people at risk for HCV and are ideal settings for on-site HCV testing. The purpose of this national study was to identify state- and facility-level factors associated with HCV testing availability. METHODS We used the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (2019) to identify OTPs in the US (n = 1679). We used multilevel logistic regression to test for an association between HCV testing and state Medicaid expansion status, and assessed whether the association depended on private or non-profit OTP ownership, adjusted for state racial/ethnic minority populations, poverty, Medicaid access to HCV treatment, and HCV, opioid use disorder, and overdose rates. RESULTS Two-thirds of OTPs offered HCV testing. Medicaid expansion (versus non-expansion) was associated with a higher odds of HCV testing within OTPs owned by non-profits (adjusted odds ratio=1.99, 95% CI=1.02-3.91, p = 0.04). Nearly all non-profit OTPs that were in expansion states had predicted probabilities that were higher than the national average. CONCLUSION HCV testing was highest in non-profit OTPs in expansion states. This is concerning given the increasing dominance of private OTPs in the marketplace. Payment structures and reimbursement are likely factors driving the low rate of HCV testing in private facilities and could be addressed with health policies aimed at eliminating HCV. Expanding support for non-profit OTPs also has the potential to strengthen testing rates and improve health.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Pro
- Health Behavior and Health Education, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Southern Public Health and Criminal Justice Research Center, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
| | - D Andrew Tompkins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF School of Medicine, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.
| | - Soraya Azari
- Department of Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110, USA.
| | - Nickolas Zaller
- Health Behavior and Health Education, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA; Southern Public Health and Criminal Justice Research Center, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
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33
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Echeverría N, Comas V, Aldunate F, Perbolianachis P, Moreno P, Cristina J. In the era of rapid mRNA-based vaccines: Why is there no effective hepatitis C virus vaccine yet? World J Hepatol 2021; 13:1234-1268. [PMID: 34786164 PMCID: PMC8568586 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i10.1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for no less than 71 million people chronically infected and is one of the most frequent indications for liver transplantation worldwide. Despite direct-acting antiviral therapies fuel optimism in controlling HCV infections, there are several obstacles regarding treatment accessibility and reinfection continues to remain a possibility. Indeed, the majority of new HCV infections in developed countries occur in people who inject drugs and are more plausible to get reinfected. To achieve global epidemic control of this virus the development of an effective prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine becomes a must. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic led to auspicious vaccine development against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, which has renewed interest on fighting HCV epidemic with vaccination. The aim of this review is to highlight the current situation of HCV vaccine candidates designed to prevent and/or to reduce HCV infectious cases and their complications. We will emphasize on some of the crossroads encountered during vaccine development against this insidious virus, together with some key aspects of HCV immunology which have, so far, hampered the progress in this area. The main focus will be on nucleic acid-based as well as recombinant viral vector-based vaccine candidates as the most novel vaccine approaches, some of which have been recently and successfully employed for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Finally, some ideas will be presented on which methods to explore for the design of live-attenuated vaccines against HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Echeverría
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Victoria Comas
- Departamento de Desarrollo Biotecnológico, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay
| | - Fabián Aldunate
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Paula Perbolianachis
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Pilar Moreno
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Juan Cristina
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
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34
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Gaskill PJ, Fields JA, Langford DT, Stauch KL, Williams DW. Editorial: Advances in Understanding NeuroHIV Associated Changes in Neuroimmune Communication in the Combined Anti-retroviral Therapy (cART) Era. Front Neurol 2021; 12:763448. [PMID: 34675877 PMCID: PMC8523985 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.763448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Gaskill
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jerel Adam Fields
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Dianne T Langford
- Department of Neuroscience, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kelly L Stauch
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Dionna W Williams
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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35
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Falcato L, Bernardini C, Bruggmann P. Hepatitis C reinfection following successful direct-acting antiviral therapy among patients attending a multidisciplinary treatment centre for people who use drugs in Zurich, Switzerland. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 96:103434. [PMID: 34511311 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM On-going risk-exposure followed by reinfection may jeopardize hepatitis C elimination efforts among people who use drugs. We estimated the HCV reinfection incidence in patients who successfully completed HCV therapy and attended a low-threshold access centre for comprehensive addiction medicine. METHODS Retrospective chart review was undertaken, in a convenience sample of patients with opioid/cocaine use disorders who achieved sustained viral response (SVR) after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in Zurich, Switzerland between April 2015 and July 2019 (n = 153). HCV reinfection incidence in patients with and without on-going drug use was calculated. RESULTS 79% of the patients were in opioid agonist treatment, and 19% were being managed for other medical or psychiatric conditions. 58% used drugs after SVR, of whom 49% injected. The follow-up period totalled 346 (median 2.1) person-years (py). Overall HCV reinfection incidence was 1.2 (CI-95: 0.3 to 3.0) per 100 py and 1.6 (0.2 to 5.8) in patients with drug use after SVR. CONCLUSION The risk of HCV reinfection after DAA therapy in persons who use drugs can be low if, after SVR, patients remain in care in a well developed comprehensive harm reduction setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Falcato
- Arud Centre for Addiction Medicine, Schützengasse 31, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Bernardini
- Arud Centre for Addiction Medicine, Schützengasse 31, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Philip Bruggmann
- Arud Centre for Addiction Medicine, Schützengasse 31, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland; Institute of Primary Care (IHAMZ), University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
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36
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Chouikha A, Ghrabi A, Ghodbane A, Hammemi W, Khedhiri M, Sadraoui A, Touzi H, Hassine HB, Maatoug S, Bensaoud C, Abdelhak S, Bouarrouj S, Gdoura M, Chaouachi H, Triki H. Distribution of HCV Genotypes Among People Who Inject Drugs in Tunisia: New Evidence for Scaling Up Prevention and Treatment Toward National Elimination Goal. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:697859. [PMID: 34385988 PMCID: PMC8353188 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.697859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes among people who inject drugs (PWID) in North African countries, including Tunisia. This study aims to describe HCV genotypes circulating among Tunisian PWID. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 128 HCV-positive PWID were recruited between 2018 and 2019 from community-based harm reduction centers. After informed consent, sociodemographic characteristics and risk behavior data were obtained using an interviewer-administrated questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for further serological and molecular testing. Overall, five women and 123 men were included. The median age was 39.5 years. The majority of PWID (56.3%) had less than a secondary level of education, were single (57%), were unemployed (65.6%), were incarcerated at least once (93.0%), and had a history of residency in at least one foreign country (50.8%). During the previous 12 months, 82.0% reported having reused syringes at least once, 43.8% shared syringes at least once, while 56.2% had at least one unprotected sexual relation, and 28.1% had more than two different sexual partners. Tattooing was reported among 60.2%. All positive results for HCV-infection by rapid testing were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCV-RNA was detectable in 79.7%. Genotyping showed a predominance of genotype 1 (52%) followed by genotype 3 (34%) and genotype 4 (10%). Four patients (4%) had an intergenotype mixed infection. Subtyping showed the presence of six different HCV subtypes as follows: 1a (53.2%), 1b (6.4%), 3a (33.0%), 4a (3.2%), and 4d (4.3%). This is the first study describing circulating HCV genotypes among PWID in Tunisia. The distribution of HCV genotypes is distinct from the general population with a predominance of subtypes 1a and 3a. These findings can be used to guide national efforts aiming to optimize the access of PWID to relevant HCV prevention and treatment measures including pangenotypic regimens for patients infected with HCV genotype 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Chouikha
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amine Ghrabi
- Association Tunisienne d'Information et d'Orientation sur le SIDA et la Toxicomanie (Tunisian Association for Information and Orientation on HIV/AIDS and Toxicomania - ATIOST), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amira Ghodbane
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Walid Hammemi
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Marwa Khedhiri
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amel Sadraoui
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Touzi
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Sonia Maatoug
- Science Shop, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Science Shop, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | | | - Samir Bouarrouj
- Association Tunisienne d'Information et d'Orientation sur le SIDA et la Toxicomanie (Tunisian Association for Information and Orientation on HIV/AIDS and Toxicomania - ATIOST), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mariem Gdoura
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hedia Chaouachi
- Association Tunisienne d'Information et d'Orientation sur le SIDA et la Toxicomanie (Tunisian Association for Information and Orientation on HIV/AIDS and Toxicomania - ATIOST), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Triki
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia
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Khalsa JH, Mathur P. Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons Who Inject Drugs in the Middle East and North Africa: Intervention Strategies. Viruses 2021; 13:1363. [PMID: 34372569 PMCID: PMC8310161 DOI: 10.3390/v13071363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a high incidence and prevalence of hepatitis C viral infection in persons with or without substance use disorders (SUDs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, but only a small number receive comprehensive care. Highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications are available at substantially lower costs; however, complete elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can only be achieved if integrated care strategies target those at highest risk for HCV infection and transmission and improve access to care. Due to the high prevalence of SUD in the MENA region, strategies to eliminate HCV must focus on integrated healthcare across multiple subspecialties, including addiction medicine, psychiatry, infectious diseases, hepatology, and social work. In this invited manuscript, we review the epidemiology of HCV in the MENA region and highlight intervention strategies to attain the WHO's goal of HCV eradication by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jag H. Khalsa
- Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse and Infections Branch, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Poonam Mathur
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
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Pérez Castaño Y, Chouza Pérez JM, Sanz Largo V, Almandoz Cortajarena E, Gómez García A, Esandi González FJ, Castiella Eguzkiza A, Arranz Díaz S, Urtasun Lugea I, Sánchez Iturri MJ, Gil Fernández B, Bujanda L, Arenas Ruiz-Tapiador J. Linkage to care strategy for the micro-elimination of hepatitis C among parenteral drug users on methadone replacement therapy in Gipuzkoa. REVISTA ESPANOLA DE ENFERMEDADES DIGESTIVAS 2021; 112:545-549. [PMID: 32579013 DOI: 10.17235/reed.2020.7194/2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION parenteral drug users (PDUs) are a population with a high prevalence of infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and significant difficulties to access to treatment. Opioid replacement therapy programs regularly monitor these individuals. OBJECTIVE to effectively treat this population using a directly observed therapy (DOT) and bringing resources closer to the methadone dispensing center in Gipuzkoa (Bitarte). METHODS all methadone users that were positive for anti-HCV antibodies were included in the study. Using a simplified circuit, a hepatologist visits the center with a Fibroscan® device and requests treatment following assessment. Treatment is dispensed at the addict center, under the supervision of a psychiatrist and nursing staff. Prevalence, population characteristics and circuit effectiveness were assessed. RESULTS Bitarte monitors 660 individuals. Of these, 73.6 % were positive for antibodies against HCV. The prevalence of viremic infection is 62.5 %. The predominant genotype was 1a, followed by 3. A total of 38.5 % had advanced fibrosis (F3 and F4) and 38 % of users admitted to active heroin use. In all, 82.07 % (174/212) of the population received treatment and 97 % had sustained viral response (SVR) after 12 weeks. No re-infections were recorded. CONCLUSIONS the prevalence of viremic HCV infection among PDUs under treatment with methadone is 62 %. The linkage to care strategy was effective and > 80 % of the population with an active infection have been treated so far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Luis Bujanda
- Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Donostia
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Mazzucco W, Chiara di Maio V, Bronte F, Fabeni L, Pipitone RM, Grimaudo S, Ferraro D, Marotta C, Aragri M, Macaluso M, Vitale F, Di Raimondo F, Ceccherini-Silberstein F, Di Marco V. Phylogenetic analysis in the clinical risk management of an outbreak of hepatitis C virus infection among transfused thalassaemia patients in Italy. J Hosp Infect 2021; 115:51-58. [PMID: 34171407 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is reduced by effective risk management procedures, but patient-to-patient transmission continues to be reported in healthcare settings. AIM To report the use of phylogenetic analysis in the clinical risk management of an HCV outbreak among 128 thalassaemia outpatients followed at a thalassaemia centre of an Italian hospital. METHODS Epidemiological investigation and root-cause analysis were performed. All patients with acute hepatitis and known chronic infection were tested for HCV RNA, HCV genotyping, and NS3, NS5A, and NS5B HCV genomic region sequencing. To identify transmission clusters, phylogenetic trees were built for each gene employing Bayesian methods. FINDINGS All patients with acute hepatitis were infected with HCV genotype 1b. Root-cause analysis, including a lookback procedure, excluded blood donors as the source of HCV transmission. The phylogenetic analysis, conducted on seven patients with acute infection and eight patients with chronic infection, highlighted four transmission clusters including at least one patient with chronic and one patient with acute HCV infection. All patients in the same cluster received a blood transfusion during the same day. Two patients with acute hepatitis spontaneously cleared HCV within four weeks and nine patients received ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir for six weeks, all achieving a sustained virological response. CONCLUSION Combined use of root-cause analysis and molecular epidemiology was effective in ascertaining the origin of the HCV outbreak. Antiviral therapy avoided the chronic progression of the infection and further spread in care units and in the family environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Mazzucco
- Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Cancer Registry Unit, COVID-19 Western Sicilian Regional Reference Laboratory, Palermo University Hospital (AOUP) 'P. Giaccone', Palermo, Italy; Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - V Chiara di Maio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - F Bronte
- Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - L Fabeni
- Laboratory of Virology, 'Lazzaro Spallanzani' National Institute for Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - R M Pipitone
- Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - S Grimaudo
- Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - D Ferraro
- Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - C Marotta
- General Directorate of Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - M Aragri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - M Macaluso
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - F Vitale
- Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Clinical Epidemiology and Cancer Registry Unit, COVID-19 Western Sicilian Regional Reference Laboratory, Palermo University Hospital (AOUP) 'P. Giaccone', Palermo, Italy
| | - F Di Raimondo
- Division of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico, Department of Surgery and Medical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - V Di Marco
- Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE) Department, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Fadnes LT, Aas CF, Vold JH, Leiva RA, Ohldieck C, Chalabianloo F, Skurtveit S, Lygren OJ, Dalgård O, Vickerman P, Midgard H, Løberg EM, Johansson KA. Integrated treatment of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs: A multicenter randomized controlled trial (INTRO-HCV). PLoS Med 2021; 18:e1003653. [PMID: 34061883 PMCID: PMC8205181 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The standard pathways of testing and treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in tertiary healthcare are not easily accessed by people who inject drugs (PWID). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of integrated treatment of chronic HCV infection among PWID. METHODS AND FINDINGS INTRO-HCV is a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants recruited from opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and community care clinics in Norway over 2017 to 2019 were randomly 1:1 assigned to the 2 treatment approaches. Integrated treatment was delivered by multidisciplinary teams at opioid agonist treatment clinics or community care centers (CCCs) for people with substance use disorders. This included on-site testing for HCV, liver fibrosis assessment, counseling, treatment, and posttreatment follow-up. Standard treatment was delivered in hospital outpatient clinics. Oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications were administered in both arms. The study was not completely blinded. The primary outcomes were time-to-treatment initiation and sustained virologic response (SVR), defined as undetectable HCV RNA 12 weeks after treatment completion, analyzed with intention to treat, and presented as hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Among 298 included participants, 150 were randomized to standard treatment, of which 116/150 (77%) initiated treatment, with 108/150 (72%) initiating within 1 year of referral. Among those 148 randomized to integrated care, 145/148 (98%) initiated treatment, with 141/148 (95%) initiating within 1 year of referral. The HR for the time to initiating treatment in the integrated arm was 2.2 (1.7 to 2.9) compared to standard treatment. SVR was confirmed in 123 (85% of initiated/83% of all) for integrated treatment compared to 96 (83% of initiated/64% of all) for the standard treatment (OR among treated: 1.5 [0.8 to 2.9], among all: 2.8 [1.6 to 4.8]). No severe adverse events were linked to the treatment. CONCLUSIONS Integrated treatment for HCV in PWID was superior to standard treatment in terms of time-to-treatment initiation, and subsequently, more people achieved SVR. Among those who initiated treatment, the SVR rates were comparable. Scaling up of integrated treatment models could be an important tool for elimination of HCV. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov.no NCT03155906.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars T. Fadnes
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Christer Frode Aas
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Jørn Henrik Vold
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Christian Ohldieck
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
| | - Fatemeh Chalabianloo
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Svetlana Skurtveit
- Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Norway
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole Jørgen Lygren
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
- ProLAR Nett, Norway
| | - Olav Dalgård
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Håvard Midgard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway
| | - Else-Marie Løberg
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
| | - Kjell Arne Johansson
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
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Sarrazin C, Boesecke C, Golsabahi‐Broclawski S, Moog G, Negro F, Silaidos C, Patel P, Lohmann K, Spinner CD, Walcher S, Wedemeyer H, Wörns M. Hepatitis C virus: Current steps toward elimination in Germany and barriers to reaching the 2030 goal. Health Sci Rep 2021; 4:e290. [PMID: 34136654 PMCID: PMC8177898 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects over 70 million people globally, with an estimated 399 000 HCV-related deaths in 2016. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal to eliminate HCV by 2030. Despite the availability of direct-acting antivirals-highly effective and well-tolerated therapies for HCV-many patients infected with HCV in Germany have not initiated treatment, including a majority of those who are aware of their positive diagnosis. Barriers to screening, diagnosis, and treatment are major factors taking many countries off track for HCV elimination by 2030. Identifying country-specific barriers and challenges, particularly in at-risk populations such as people who inject drugs or men who have sex with men, has the potential to create tailored programs and strategies to increase access to screening or treatment and engage at-risk populations. This review aims to report the current steps toward HCV elimination in Germany, the country-specific barriers and challenges that will potentially prevent reaching the 2030 HCV elimination goal and describe good practice examples to overcome these barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Sarrazin
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver CenterSt. Josefs‐Hospital Wiesbaden and Viral Hepatitis Research Group, Goethe‐University Hospital FrankfurtFrankfurtGermany
| | - Christoph Boesecke
- Department of Medicine IUniversity Hospital BonnBonnGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF)Partner‐site Bonn‐CologneBonnGermany
| | | | - Gero Moog
- Gastroenterologische Praxis im MarienkrankenhausKasselGermany
| | - Francesco Negro
- Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and of Clinical PathologyGeneva University HospitalsGenevaSwitzerland
| | | | | | | | - Christoph D. Spinner
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital Rechts der IsarTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site MunichMunichGermany
| | | | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of GastroenterologyHepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical SchoolHannoverGermany
- Leberstiftungs‐GmbH DeutschlandHannoverGermany
| | - Marcus‐Alexander Wörns
- First Department of MedicineUniversity Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg‐UniversityMainzGermany
- Cirrhosis Centre Mainz (CCM)University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg‐UniversityMainzGermany
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Reygosa C, Morales-Arraez D, Hernández-Bustabad A, Melián Baute L, Hernández-Guerra M. Hepatitis C-treated patients as a potential source for referral of new cases. GASTROENTEROLOGIA Y HEPATOLOGIA 2021; 44:704-710. [PMID: 34023471 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are an opportunity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination. Strategies are needed to diagnose new patients and to attract those diagnosed without evaluation. Patients with other chronic viral diseases who receive satisfactory treatment promote referral of other patients for evaluation. Our aim was to evaluate whether patients who have been treated with DAAs would recommend follow-up and treatment to other patients as well as the characteristics that influence this decision. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two-hundred and 2HCV-infected patients treated with DAAs were included. Patients were asked about whether they knew other infected people and their willingness to share their experience. A general satisfaction survey and a specific HCV satisfaction survey were carried out. Demographic, socioeconomic and HCV infection variables were recorded. RESULTS Despite the fact that 54.4% of the patients reported knowing others infected, 34.2% would not fully agree to share their experience. The analysis of general and specific satisfaction showed that patients who shared their experience mentioned a perception of greater care from the specialist (4.7±0.4 vs. 4.3±0.6, P=.001) and had more information on treatment expectations (4.6±0.5 vs. 4.0±0.7, P=.001) and social support (4.5±0.7 vs. 4.0±0.8, P=.001). CONCLUSIONS The perception by treated patients of general satisfaction with the healthcare process and information about benefits influences the degree of recommendation to other infected people. Knowledge about treatment and perception of improvement in health of treated patients should be enhanced as it can contribute to increasing referrals to specialized consultation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Reygosa
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España
| | - Dalia Morales-Arraez
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España
| | - Alberto Hernández-Bustabad
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España
| | - Lorelay Melián Baute
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España
| | - Manuel Hernández-Guerra
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España; Instituto Universitario de Tecnologías Biomédicas CIBICAN, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Psiquiatría y Dermatología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España.
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Frazzoni L, Sikandar U, Mazzella G, Fuccio L, Bazzoli F, Brillanti S, Azzaroli F. A multimedia multilanguage web-based platform can assess and increase the awareness on HCV infection of Pakistani people living in Italy. J Viral Hepat 2021; 28:764-770. [PMID: 33586276 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Global eradication of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is hindered by infection persistence among high-prevalence ethnic groups with insufficient access to care. Educational interventions to raise awareness on HCV have led to identification of submerged HCV cases. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based platform to assess and raise the awareness of HCV among Pakistani people living in northern Italy. We created a website in Italian and Urdu language (https://survey-hcv6.webnode.it), and shared it to Pakistani people in Emilia-Romagna through Facebook groups. Participants had to fill a 15-item questionnaire on HCV infection, then watch a video on HCV, and respond to the questionnaire again. McNemar's chi-square and negative binomial multivariable regression analysis yielding incidence rate ratio (IRR) were applied. 339 subjects from 600 (57%) participated and filled the baseline questionnaire. The knowledge on HCV infection was scanty. For instance, 32% were not aware of HCV, 42% only knew that HCV infection may be long term, and only 14% knew the access to DAA treatment is provided by the Health Service. Independent predictors of worse knowledge on HCV were male gender (IRR 1.19), low instruction level (IRR 1.26), Urdu language preference (IRR 1.22), past use of intravenous drugs (1.2) and no previous HCV testing (IRR 1.36). The educational video significantly improved the knowledge on HCV among 67 subjects who refilled the questionnaire, as 97% were later aware of HCV, 99% of the long-term duration of HCV infection and 93% of the access to DAAs provided by Italian Health Service. We found a modest level of knowledge on HCV infection among Pakistani people in northern Italy, identifying predictors of worse awareness. We provided a multimedia platform which significantly improved the knowledge on HCV infection. Consequently, this approach might translate into an improved linkage to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Frazzoni
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Usama Sikandar
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mazzella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Fuccio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Franco Bazzoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Azzaroli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Künzler-Heule P, Fierz K, Schmidt AJ, Rasi M, Bogdanovic J, Kocher A, Engberg S, Battegay M, Nöstlinger C, Lehner A, Kouyos R, Schmid P, Braun DL, Fehr J, Nicca D. Response to a sexual risk reduction intervention provided in combination with hepatitis C treatment by HIV/HCV co-infected men who have sex with men: a reflexive thematic analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:319. [PMID: 33823783 PMCID: PMC8022541 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06003-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis C virus reinfections in HIV-positive men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) challenge the effectiveness of antiviral treatment. To fight this problem, an adapted sexual risk reduction intervention was implemented within a hepatitis C treatment trial. Following this, the current study had two aims and describes 1) how the program was received by participants; and 2) their responses to the program regarding sexual risk taking. Based on the participants' input, we hoped to judge the intervention's potential for scale-up. METHODS Seventeen participants who received the sexual risk reduction intervention in addition to hepatitis C treatment were recruited for semi-structured interviews six to 12 months post-intervention. We evaluated the responses via reflexive thematic analysis and applied the concept of sense-making. RESULTS Giving hepatitis C a place and living without it again illustrates how participants received the program and how their experiences were altered by the impact of sense-making. Based on their responses, we allocated participants to three groups: 1. Avoid risks: get rid of hepatitis C for life. For these men, hepatitis C remained a life-threatening disease: they actively modified their risk behavior and felt supported by the intervention in maintaining their behavioral changes. 2. Minimize risks: live as long as possible without hepatitis C. In contrast to group 1, these men saw hepatitis C as a manageable disease. The intervention facilitated reflection on risks and how to develop behavioral changes that suited them individually. 3. Accept risks; live with the risk of hepatitis C. These men perceived behavioral changes as much more difficult than "easy" medical treatment. They expected to either undergo repeated rounds of treatment or stay HCV re-infected. CONCLUSION These results illustrate the diversity of men's responses and their decisions regarding sexual risk behavior after participating in a combination of antiviral treatment and a sexual risk reduction intervention. Two major aspects were identified: 1) Teachable moments, particularly at the time of diagnosis/treatment, could offer an opportunity to develop openness for behavioral change; 2) adapting sexual risk reduction interventions to sense-making patterns could help to improve its effectiveness. Support for reducing infection risk and raising awareness of preventative measures are additional benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trial Number: NCT02785666 , 30.05.2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Künzler-Heule
- Nursing Science, Department Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Gastroenterology/Hepatology and Department of Nursing, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Fierz
- Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZUAS), Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Axel Jeremias Schmidt
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.,Sigma Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Manuela Rasi
- Department of Public & Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jasmina Bogdanovic
- Nursing Science, Department Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Agnes Kocher
- Nursing Science, Department Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Engberg
- Nursing Science, Department Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Manuel Battegay
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Roger Kouyos
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Schmid
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Laurent Braun
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Fehr
- Department of Public & Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dunja Nicca
- Nursing Science, Department Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. .,Department of Public & Global Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Williams LD, Mackesy-Amiti ME, Latkin C, Boodram B. Drug use-related stigma, safer injection norms, and hepatitis C infection among a network-based sample of young people who inject drugs. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 221:108626. [PMID: 33689967 PMCID: PMC8041355 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying risk for hepatitis C (HCV) infection is important for understanding recent increases in HCV incidence among young people who inject drugs (PWID) in suburban and rural areas; and for refining the targeting of effective HCV preventive interventions. Much of the extant research has focused on individual health behaviors (e.g., risky drug injection behaviors) as predictors of HCV infection. The present study examines two social factors (substance use-related stigma and injection-related social norms), and the interaction between these factors, as predictors of HCV infection. METHODS Baseline data were used from an ongoing longitudinal study of young PWID (N = 279; mean age = 30.4 years) from the Chicago suburbs and their injection risk network members. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine relationships among substance use-related stigma, safer injection norms, and HCV infection. RESULTS Despite a marginal bivariate association between less safe injection norms and HCV infection (OR = 0.74; 95 % CI[0.39, 1.02]; p = .071), a significant stigma X norms interaction (AOR = 0.68; 95 % CI[0.51, 0.90]) suggested that at high levels of stigma, probability of HCV infection was high regardless of injection norms. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that social factors - specifically, substance use-related stigma and injection norms - are important predictors of HCV infection risk. The interaction found between these social factors suggests that intervening only to change injection norms or behaviors is likely insufficient to reduce risk for HCV infection in high-stigma settings or among high-stigma populations. Future research should develop and evaluate stigma-reduction interventions in combination with safer-injection interventions in order to maximize HCV risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie D. Williams
- Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
| | - Mary Ellen Mackesy-Amiti
- Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
| | - Carl Latkin
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Basmattee Boodram
- Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
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46
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CD8 + T Cell Responses during HCV Infection and HCC. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10050991. [PMID: 33801203 PMCID: PMC7957882 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10050991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus (cHCV) infection is a major global health burden and the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Western world. The course and outcome of HCV infection is centrally influenced by CD8+ T cell responses. Indeed, strong virus-specific CD8+ T cell responses are associated with spontaneous viral clearance while failure of these responses, e.g., caused by viral escape and T cell exhaustion, is associated with the development of chronic infection. Recently, heterogeneity within the exhausted HCV-specific CD8+ T cells has been observed with implications for immunotherapeutic approaches also for other diseases. In HCC, the presence of tumor-infiltrating and peripheral CD8+ T cell responses correlates with a favorable prognosis. Thus, tumor-associated and tumor-specific CD8+ T cells are considered suitable targets for immunotherapeutic strategies. Here, we review the current knowledge of CD8+ T cell responses in chronic HCV infection and HCC and their respective failure with the potential consequences for T cell-associated immunotherapeutic approaches.
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47
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Midgard H, Ulstein K, Backe Ø, Foshaug T, Sørli H, Vennesland K, Nilssen D, Dahl EH, Finbråten AK, Wüsthoff L, Dalgard O. Hepatitis C treatment and reinfection surveillance among people who inject drugs in a low-threshold program in Oslo, Norway. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 96:103165. [PMID: 33642182 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aims were to evaluate HCV treatment effectiveness, estimate reinfection rates, and demonstrate the feasibility of reinfection surveillance and retreatment among marginalized people who inject drugs (PWID). METHODS Prospective observational study including consecutive HCV RNA positive individuals attending a low-threshold clinic in Oslo, Norway, between 2013 and 2020. Participants were offered individually tailored HCV treatment and post-treatment HCV RNA surveillance at three months intervals. RESULTS Of 488 HCV RNA positive individuals, 363 initiated treatment (median age 48.7 years, 72.5% male, 17.2% liver cirrhosis, 54.3% unstable housing). All participants had a history of injecting drug use, 71.1% received opioid agonist treatment, and 70.1% reported recent (past 3 months) injecting. In intention-to-treat analysis, excluding those with HCV RNA results pending, virologic response was achieved in 306 of 340 (90.0%) participants. In modified intention-to-treat analysis, also excluding those with loss to follow-up during treatment, virologic response was achieved in 306 of 323 (94.7%). Virologic response was not associated with recent injecting drug use or socio-demographic factors. Reinfection surveillance was accomplished in 297 individuals (308.2 PY of follow-up; median 0.50 years). Eight cases of reinfection were detected for an incidence of 2.60/100 PY (95% CI 1.12-5.11) overall, and 3.74/100 PY (95% CI 1.62-7.37) among those with injecting drug use during follow-up (n = 205). Reinfection was associated with younger age (IRR 0.37; 95% CI 0.18-0.74), and all cases occurred in participants aged below 49 years with ongoing injecting drug use who reported mixed heroin/amphetamine injecting. Successful retreatment was provided in all cases and no second reinfections were observed. CONCLUSION The findings consolidate previous evidence supporting the effectiveness of HCV treatment among PWID, provide novel data on reinfection rates and associated factors, and demonstrate the feasibility of reinfection surveillance and retreatment in a real-world setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håvard Midgard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Kjersti Ulstein
- Agency for Social and Welfare Services, City of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øystein Backe
- Agency for Social and Welfare Services, City of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tarjei Foshaug
- Agency for Social and Welfare Services, City of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanne Sørli
- Agency for Social and Welfare Services, City of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - David Nilssen
- Department of Illicit drug use, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Linda Wüsthoff
- Department of Addiction Treatment, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav Dalgard
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Kondili LA, Andreoni M, Alberti A, Lobello S, Babudieri S, Roscini AS, Merolla R, Marrocco W, Craxì A. Estimated prevalence of undiagnosed HCV infected individuals in Italy: A mathematical model by route of transmission and fibrosis progression. Epidemics 2021; 34:100442. [PMID: 33607538 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2021.100442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The universal treatment of diagnosed patients with chronic HCV infection has been widely conducted in Italy since 2017. However, the pool of individuals diagnosed but yet to be treated in Italy has been estimated to end around 2025, leaving a significant proportion of infected individuals undiagnosed/without care. Estimates of this population are currently unknown. METHODS A probabilistic modelling approach was applied to estimate annual historical HCV incident cases by their age-group (0-100 years) distribution from available literature and Italian National database (1952 to October 2019). Viraemic infection rates were modelled on the main infection routes in Italy: people who inject drugs (PWID), tattoos, sexual transmission, glass syringe use, blood transfusion and vertical transmission. Annual liver fibrosis stage transition probabilities were modelled using a Markov model. The number of HCV viraemic asymptomatic (fibrosis stage F0-F3:potentially undiagnosed/unlinked to care) and symptomatic (fibrosis stage F4: potentially linked to care) individuals was estimated. RESULTS By October 2019, total viraemic HCV individuals in Italy (excluding treated patients since 1992) were estimated to be 410,775 (0.68 % of current population of Italy; 95 % CI: 0.64-0.71%, based on the current Italian population), of which 281,809 (0.47 %; 95 % CI:0.35-0.60%) were fibrosis stage F0-F3. Among different high risk groups in stage F0-F3, the following distribution was estimated: PWID; 52.0 % (95 % CI:37.9-66.6 %), tattoo; 28.8 % (95 % CI:23-32.3 %), sexual transmission; 12.0 % (95 % CI:9.6-13.7 %), glass syringe and transfusion; 6.4 % (95 % CI:2.4-17.8 %), and vertical transmission; 0.7 % (95 % CI:0.4-1.2 %). CONCLUSION Under the assumption that most untreated HCV-infected individuals with stage F0-F3 are undiagnosed, more than 280,000 individuals are undiagnosed and/or unlinked to care in Italy. Marked heterogeneity across the major routes of HCV transmission was estimated. This modelling approach may be a useful tool to characterise the HCV epidemic profile also in other countries, based on country specific epidemiology and HCV main transmission routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreta A Kondili
- Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Walter Marrocco
- Federazione Italiana Medici di Medicina Generale (FIMMG), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Craxì
- Gastroenterology and Liver Unit, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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Wang SJ, Huang CF, Yu ML. Elbasvir and grazoprevir for the treatment of hepatitis C. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2021; 19:1071-1081. [PMID: 33428488 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1874351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Hepatitis C is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease. The direct-acting-antivirals has revolutionized the chronic hepatitis C treatment. DAAs can achieve a sustained virological response rate >95% in different populations.Area covered: This review summarizes the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety of Elbasvir/Grazoprevir (EBR/GZR).Expert opinion: EBR/GZR is a combination of NS5A and NS3/4A inhibitors. The performance in the EBR/GZR combination's safety and tolerability is appreciated in clinical treatment. EBR/GZR also has a higher barrier to resistance-associated substitutions. Based on clinical trials and real-world experience, elbasvir/grazoprevir is effective in the HCV GT1, 4 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szu-Jen Wang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yuan's General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Feng Huang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Faculty of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Steininger L, Chromy D, Bauer D, Simbrunner B, Binter T, Schwabl P, Schmidbauer C, Trauner M, Gschwantler M, Mandorfer M, Reiberger T. Direct patient-physician communication via a hepatitis C hotline facilitates treatment initiation in patients with poor adherence. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2020; 133:452-460. [PMID: 33351152 PMCID: PMC8116284 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-020-01790-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Despite the availability of effective and well-tolerated direct acting antivirals (DAAs) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a substantial number of HCV patients remain untreated. Novel strategies targeting HCV patients with poor adherence are urgently needed to enable HCV elimination. Methods We implemented a physician-operated HCV hotline (HCV-Phone) that was promoted within the patient community and referral networks. Previously diagnosed HCV patients were contacted via the HCV-Phone and offered low-barrier access to DAA therapy. Patients/referring physicians could directly call or send messages to the HCV-Phone. The HCV-Phone related and unrelated visits as well as DAA treatment initiations throughout 2019 were documented. Patients were followed until October 2020. This study analyzed treatment initiation, adherence to scheduled visits and outcomes in patients in whom management was assisted by the HCV-Phone. Results Out of 98 patient contacts via the HCV-Phone 74 attended treatment assessment at our clinic. While 15 (20%) patients were HCV-RNA negative and 1 (1%) patient did not initiate therapy, 58 patients were recruited for DAA therapy via the HCV-Phone. A total of 21 additional patients who started DAAs without HCV-Phone assistance required the use of the HCV-Phone infrastructure later on during treatment, resulting in a total of 79 HCV-Phone related DAA therapies. The poor adherence of patients previously diagnosed with HCV at our clinic is underlined by the long duration from HCV diagnosis to DAA therapy of median 37.0 months (IQR 2.7–181.1 months). A total of 55 (70%) HCV patients achieved a sustained virological response (SVR), 5 (6%) discontinued therapy, 1 (1%) had a reinfection, while 10 (13%) and 8 (10%) patients were lost during DAA therapy or follow-up, respectively. Conclusion The implementation of a physician-operated phone hotline for patients with HCV infection facilitated treatment initiation in an HCV population with poor adherence. Mainly due to losses to follow-up, the SVR rate remained suboptimal with 70%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Steininger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Chromy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria.,Division of Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Bauer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Simbrunner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Teresa Binter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Schwabl
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caroline Schmidbauer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Wiener Krankenanstaltenverbund (KAV) der Stadt Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Gschwantler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Wilhelminenspital, Wiener Krankenanstaltenverbund (KAV) der Stadt Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mattias Mandorfer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. .,Vienna HIV & Liver Study Group, Vienna, Austria.
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