Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir fixed-dose combination with and without ribavirin for 12 weeks in treatment-naive and previously treated Japanese patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C: an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

Healthcare Expenditures for the Treatment of Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus in Japan

AIM

The recently developed direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are costly. Cost-effectiveness analyses of DAAs require accurate healthcare expenditure estimates for the various HCV disease states, but few studies have produced such estimates using national-level data. This study utilized nationally representative data to estimate the healthcare expenditure for each HCV disease state.

METHODS

We identified all patients infected with HCV between April 2010 and March 2018 from a nationwide administrative claims database in Japan. Monthly patient-level healthcare expenditures were calculated for the following disease states: chronic hepatitis C (CHC), compensated cirrhosis (CC), decompensated cirrhosis (DC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expenditures for the CHC and CC states were also compared before DAA treatment and after sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved. A longitudinal two-part model was employed to estimate the healthcare expenditures for each state.

RESULTS

During the study period, 1,564,043 patients with 146,488,137 patient-months of data met the inclusion criteria. The year of valuation was 2017. The mean monthly healthcare expenditures per patient (95% confidence intervals) for the pre-DAA CHC, CC, DC, and HCC states were US$267 (US$267-268), US$428 (US$427-429), US$666 (US$663-669), and US$969 (US$966-972), respectively. The mean monthly healthcare expenditures per patient for the post-SVR (≥ 2 years) CHC and CC states were US$176 (US$176-177) and US$238 (US$236-240), respectively. Healthcare expenditure increased with increasing age in all disease states (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These healthcare expenditure estimates from a nationally representative sample have potential applications in cost-effectiveness analyses of DAAs.

Favorable outcome of retreatment by direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C patients with daclatasvir plus asunaprevir combination therapy failure

AIM

In patients with hepatitis C virus, treatment failure of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir combination therapy (DCV + ASV) seems to become intractable due to the induction of resistance-associated substitutions. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of retreatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with DCV + ASV therapy failure, as well as changes in drug resistance mutations.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 44 patients re-treated with DAAs after DCV + ASV failure between December 2015 and April 2018. All patients were analyzed for amino acid substitutions, and additional treatment regimens were selected based on the results and current treatment guidelines.

RESULTS

The sustained virological response rate with second-line treatment was 81.8% (36/44), and relapse occurred in five of 16 patients who received sofosbuvir/ledipasvir and three of seven patients who received DCV/ASV/beclabuvir. Third- and fourth-line treatments were also tried in relapsed cases, and the overall sustained virological response rates were 90.9% (40/44) and 93.2% (41/44), respectively. A high rate of viral clearance was eventually observed. Before second-line treatment, the prevalence of mutations in the NS5A and NS3/4A regions was 100% (44/44) and 86.4% (38/44), respectively. There was no significant increase in the number of amino acid substitutions in patients for whom second-line treatment failed.

CONCLUSIONS

Amino acid substitutions were frequently observed in patients with DCV + ASV failure, but most patients achieved a sustained virological response after retreatment with DAAs. Although the spread of drug-resistant viruses due to unsuccessful DAA treatment was a matter of concern, most cases of DCV + ASV failure were overcome with additional treatment.

Sofosbuvir-based regimens in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Real-world efficacy in Thailand

Aims

To analyze the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens in Thai patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who had pre-existing significant liver fibrosis.

Patients and methods

This was a retrospective cohort study, conducted between 1 June 2018 and 31 May 2019 at Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. All patients completed 12 weeks of SOF-based regimens and had follow-up for at least 12 weeks after therapy discontinuation. The primary outcome was sustained virological response (SVR) 12 weeks after the end of therapy.

Result

A total of 185 patients were included, with 52, 63 and 70 taking SOF+Ledipasvir (SOF+LDV), SOF+LDV+ribavirin (RBV) and SOF+Pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN)+RBV (SOF+Peg-IFN+RBV) respectively. Genotype (GT) 1 was predominant at 40.0%, followed by GT3 at 37.8%, and GT6 at 22.2%. Overall 95.1% of patients in this study achieved SVR (n = 176/185), and the only factor associated with SVR was HCV genotype (p = 0.001). GT6 patients had lower SVR rates compared to GT1 and GT3 patients (82.9%, 98.6%, and 98.6% respectively) while there was no association between SVR and other factors (p >0.05) such as gender, age, BMI, underlying cirrhosis, baseline HCV viral load, or prior treatment history. No serious adverse events were reported in the present study.

Conclusion

Sofosbuvir-based regimens in the treatment of patients with chronic HCV infection were highly efficacious with excellent safety and tolerability profiles in a real-world setting; however, further research is required to establish whether or not such a regimen is an adequate treatment for all genotype 6 patients.

Long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A suppresses hepatitis C virus infection by targeting virion-bound lipoproteins

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis and end-stage liver diseases. Mature HCV virions are bound by host-derived lipoproteins. Lack of an HCV vaccine warrants a major role of antiviral treatment in the global elimination of hepatitis C. Although direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are replacing the interferon-based treatment and have dramatically improved the cure rate, the presence of viral variants resistant to DAAs, HCV genotype/subtype-specific efficacy, and high cost of DAAs argue novel and affordable regimens. In this study, we identified the antiviral effects of long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A (LCFA-CoA) against the infections of HCV genotypes 1-6 through targeting mature HCV-bound lipoproteins, suggesting novel mechanism(s) of antiviral different from those used by host-targeting agents or DAAs. We found that the antiviral activity of LCFA-CoA relied on the long-chain saturated fatty acid and the CoA group, and was enhanced when combined with pegylated-interferon or DAAs. Importantly, we demonstrated that LCFA-CoA efficiently inhibited the infection of HCV variants carrying DAA-resistant mutations. The mechanistic study revealed that LCFA-CoA specifically abolished the attachment and binding steps and also inhibited the cell-to-cell viral transmission. LCFA-CoA targeted mature HCV-bound lipoproteins, but not apolipoproteins B or E. In addition, LCFA-CoA could also inhibit the infection of the dengue virus. Our findings suggest that LCFA-CoA could potentially serve as a supplement HCV therapy, particularly for the DAA-resistant HCV variants. Taken together, LCFA-CoA may be further developed to be a novel class of antivirals with mechanism(s), different from host-targeting agents or DAAs, of targeting the components associated with mature HCV virions.

Generation Gap for Screening and Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus in Saga Prefecture, Japan: An Administrative Database Study of 35,625 Subjects

Objective Despite recent advances in hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, some HCV-positive individuals are unaware of their infection. The present study aimed to assess the rate and age distribution in Saga Prefecture regarding i) HCV infection and HCV screening and ii) direct acting anti-viral (DAA) treatment. Methods HCV screening data collected at a medical institution or in the workplace were obtained from the administrative database in Saga Prefecture between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2014. DAA treatment data from Saga Prefecture were obtained from the DAA treatment reimbursement recipient database between October 2014 and March 2017. Results There were 35,625 individuals who underwent HCV screening, and the HCV positive rate was 1.18% (421 individuals), which increased in an age-related manner. The screening rate in the screened populations peaked at 45-74 years of age (approximately 6%) and decreased in the younger and older generations. The estimated percentage of DAA treatment peaked at 65-74 years old (65.8%) and significantly decreased inversely with age in the younger generations; only 9.4% of HCV carriers received DAA treatment in the 20- to 34-year age group. The proportion of subjects who received a complete physical examination for DAA treatment was higher in the subjects who were screened at a medical institution than in those screened at the workplace. Conclusion The rate of subjects who underwent HCV screening and DAA treatment was not high, especially in the younger generation, in Saga Prefecture. This group should be targeted for HCV screening and treatment.

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir Versus Existing Direct-Acting Antivirals to Treat Chronic Hepatitis C in Japan

INTRODUCTION

The objective of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir versus other direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Japan.

METHODS

We developed a health state transition model to capture the natural history of HCV. A cost-effectiveness analysis of DAAs from the perspective of a public healthcare payer in Japan with a lifetime horizon over annual cycles was performed. Treatment attributes, baseline demographics, transition probabilities, health-state utilities, and costs data were extracted from publications. Costs and outcomes were discounted at 2% per annum. In the base case we focused on genotype 1 (GT1) treatment-naïve patients without cirrhosis. The scenario analysis examined a pan-genotype treatment in GT1-3 (i.e., portfolio), treatment-naïve, and treatment-experienced patients. The portfolio cost-effectiveness of DAAs was derived by calculating a weighted average of patient segments defined by treatment history, cirrhosis status, and genotype.

RESULTS

The base case results indicated that glecaprevir/pibrentasvir was dominant (i.e., generating higher quality-adjusted life years [QALYs] and lower lifetime costs) compared to all other DAAs. The predicted lifetime risk of hepatocellular carcinoma was 3.66% for glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir, 4.99% for elbasvir/grazoprevir, and 5.27% for daclatasvir/asunaprevir/beclabuvir. In scenario analysis the glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) portfolio dominated the sofosbuvir (SOF)-based portfolio (namely sofosbuvir/ledipasvir in GT1-2 and sofosbuvir + ribavirin in GT3). The base case probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) showed that glecaprevir/pibrentasvir was cost-effective in 93.4% of the simulations for a willingness-to-pay/QALY range of Japanese yen (JPY) 1.6-20 million. The PSA for the portfolio scenario indicated that the GLE/PIB portfolio was cost-effective in 100% of simulations until the willingness-to-pay/QALY reached JPY 5.2 million; this proportion decreased to 69.4% at a willingness-to-pay/QALY of JPY 20 million. Results were also robust in deterministic sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

In GT1 treatment-naïve non-cirrhotic patients GLE/PIB was a cost-effective strategy compared to other DAAs. When a pan-genotypic framework was used, the GLE/PIB portfolio dominated the SOF-based portfolio.

Pangenotypic direct acting antivirals for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent approval and adoption of pangenotypic direct acting antivirals (DAAs) necessitated a revision of the 2015 World Health Organization guidelines for the management of persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and relevant conference proceedings to identify randomized and non-randomized trials, as well as prospective observational studies of DAAs. The proportions of persons with events were pooled for sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12), discontinuations due to adverse events (DAEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), and all-cause mortality. Analyses were stratified by HCV genotype and antiviral treatment experience, with subgroup analyses based on presence of cirrhosis and HIV-HCV coinfection.

FINDINGS

The evidence base consisted of 238 publications describing 142 studies. In the overall analysis, which included all persons irrespective of treatment experience or comorbidities, the pooled proportion achieving SVR12 exceeded 0.94 for all pangenotypic regimens across genotypes 1, 2, and 4. Some heterogeneity may have led to lower SVR rates in persons with genotype 3 infection. High SVR12 (>0.90) was observed in persons with genotype 1 infection with cirrhosis, though evidence varied and was limited for genotypes 2-4. Evidence was sparse for persons with HIV-HCV coinfection. All regimens were associated with small proportions of persons with DAEs, SAEs, or all-cause mortality.

INTERPRETATION

Based on this and other supporting evidence, the WHO issued updated guidelines with a conditional recommendation, based on moderate quality evidence, for the use of pangenotypic DAA regimens for persons with chronic HCV infection aged 18 years and older (July 2018).

FUNDING

This study was funded by the World Health Organization.

Novel Therapeutic Strategy Using Interventional Radiology (IVR) for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-Related Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis: A Case Report

Patient: Male, 72

Final Diagnosis: Decompensated liver cirrhosis

Symptoms: Disturbance of consciousness

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: PSE • BRTO • HCV treatment

Specialty: Radiology

Effects of resistance-associated variants in genotype 2 hepatitis C virus on viral replication and susceptibility to antihepatitis C virus drugs

AIMS

Development of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has made antihepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment highly safe and effective. However, the emergence of resistant-associated variants (RAVs) after failure of DAA therapy affects retreatment outcomes. In particular, genotype 1 HCV with P32 deletion has been reported to be highly resistant to all approved non-structural protein (NS)5A inhibitors. However, analysis of RAVs in genotype 2 HCV has been limited. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the roles of genotype 2 HCV variants in antiviral drug efficacy.

METHODS

We utilized HCV-2b/2a (JFH-1) chimeric virus (genotype 2a), which replicates more robustly than JFH-1. We constructed various genotype 2a JFH-1-based HCV cell culture systems with NS3 (D168E), NS5A (F28S, F28S/M31I, P32 deletion, and Y93H), and NS5B (S282 T) RAVs and analyzed the replication ability and sensitivity to various anti-HCV reagents.

RESULTS

Genotype 2a-based HCV with NS5A-P32 deletion could not replicate even in long-term cultures. Genotype 2a-based HCV with NS5A-F28S/M31I showed significantly higher replication ability than the wild-type strain, and replication could not be suppressed, even with high concentrations of NS5A inhibitors, including pibrentasvir and velpatasvir (<1000-10 000 fold-resistance compared with the wild-type strain). However, genotype 2a-based HCV with NA5A-F28S/M31I was sensitive to HCV protease inhibitor, NS5B inhibitor, interferon-α, and ribavirin. Genotype 2a-based HCV with NS5B-S282 T was resistant to sofosbuvir, but was highly sensitive to ribavirin compared with the control.

CONCLUSIONS

When undertaking retreatment for genotype 2a HCV-infected patients who fail to respond to DAAs, the optimized retreatment should be chosen according to the sensitivity of the emerging RAVs to anti-HCV drugs.

Direct-acting antivirals for HCV treatment in older patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The advent of highly effective and well-tolerated direct antiviral antivirals (DAAs) has dramatically changed the landscape of chronic hepatitis C. The effect of DAAs in older adults is difficult to determine since patients aged ≥ 65 years were too few in most clinical trials and data mainly come from observational studies. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DAAs in patients aged 65 and older. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, HCV-Trials.com databases were searched for literature published until 1 December 2017. English language articles reporting results of phase 2 or 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), single-arm clinical trials (SATs) and observational studies were included in the final analysis. All studies included subgroups of older patients and compared their outcomes with younger individuals. By using a random-effects or fixed-effects model, odds ratio (OR) was calculated for the efficacy and safety. Heterogeneity was tested using I² statistics. Thirty-seven studies reported data on the DAA efficacy. The OR was 1.66 (95%CI: 1.00-2.75; P = 0.06) in meta-analysis of RCTs, and similar results were found in SATs and observational studies. HCV genotype, stage of fibrosis or HIV co-infection did not affect the rate of SVR in older persons. Prevalence of anaemia (OR 0.26 95%CI: 0.09-0.69; P = 0.007) (OR 0.25 95%CI: 0.09-0.69; P = 0.007) and skin complaints (OR 0.61 95%CI: 0.45-0.83; P = 0.001) was higher in older adults. Finally, geriatric patients affected by chronic HCV infection can be safely treated with DAAs with the same efficacy reported in younger adults.

Efficacy and safety of direct-acting antivirals for treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection

This systematic review was performed on the basis of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses and Cochrane recommendations to compare sustained virological response (SVR12) and the serious adverse events in patients treated by directing-acting antivirals. We conducted a literature search in PubMed/Medline, EBSCO, Embase and the Cochrane Library until 2018. A consistency model was used to get the relative effect of odds ratio among regimens and the possibility for the efficacy and safety of 13 regimen, and we divided these regimens into DUAL or TRIO regimens to conduct integrated data analysis. The results demonstrated that dual or triple directing-acting antiviral-combined regimens had higher SVR12 rates, Daclatasvir plus Asunaprevir may be a good choice for genotype 1 patients, and regimens without Ribavirin and interferon are safer.

Viral Hepatitis C Therapy: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Considerations: A 2019 Update

It has been estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) that over 71 million people were infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 2015. Since then, a number of highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens have been licensed for the treatment of chronic HCV infection: sofosbuvir/daclatasvir, sofosbuvir/ledipasvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir. With these treatment regimens, almost all chronic HCV-infected patients, even including prior DAA failures, can be treated effectively and safely. It is therefore likely that further development of DAAs will be limited. In this descriptive review we provide an overview of the clinical pharmacokinetic characteristics of currently available DAAs by describing their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Potential drug-drug interactions with the DAAs are briefly discussed. Furthermore, we summarize what is known about the pharmacodynamics of the DAAs in terms of efficacy and safety. We briefly discuss the relationship between the pharmacokinetics of the DAAs and efficacy or toxicity in special populations, such as hard to cure patients and patients with liver cirrhosis, liver transplantation, renal impairment, hepatitis B virus or HIV co-infection, bleeding disorders, and children. The aim of this overview is to educate/update prescribers and pharmacists so that they are able to safely and effectively treat HCV-infected patients even in the presence of underlying co-infections or co-morbidities.

Real-world efficacy of elbasvir and grazoprevir for hepatitis C virus (genotype 1): A nationwide, multicenter study by the Japanese Red Cross Hospital Liver Study Group

AIM

The present study aimed to determine the real-world efficacy and safety of the non-structural protein (NS)5A inhibitor elbasvir (EBR) combined with the NS3/4A protease inhibitor grazoprevir (GZR) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 (GT1) infection.

METHODS

This study retrospectively evaluated the rate of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) and the safety of EBR/GZR treatment in 159 men and 194 women with a median age of 72 years, and it assessed factors associated with the SVR12 rate. The attending physicians were responsible for selecting candidate patients for EBR/GZR in this retrospective study.

RESULTS

Treatment outcomes for EBR/GZR were good in direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-naïve patients, of whom 99.4% achieved SVR. Of 353 patients, 10 (2.9%) had treatment failure. Of these patients, eight previously underwent DAA therapy, and the remaining two had NS5A-L31/Y93 double mutation. The SVR rate was 50% (8/16 patients) in patients who previously underwent DAA therapy, and 18.2% (2/11 patients) in patients with NS5A-L31/Y93 double mutation. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, NS5A-Y31/Y93 double mutation (odds ratio 356.3; 95% confidence interval, 23.91-16 940; P < 0.0001) was identified as an independent predictor of treatment failure. No serious adverse events were observed with EBR/GZR therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The SVR rate of EBR/GZR would have been 100% in patients without either a history of DAA therapy or double mutation. This combination of drugs could be safely given and is, thus, considered a highly useful first-line treatment for DAA-naïve patients with HCV.

Initial- and re-treatment effectiveness of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir for Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus-genotype 1/2/3 infections

BACKGROUND

Glecaprevir and pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) are potent antiviral agents for hepatitis C virus (HCV) pan-genotypic infections; however, their clinical effectiveness and safety remain limited in the real-world. This study aimed to evaluate viral responses and the safety of GLE/PIB for patients with chronic HCV-1/2/3 infections during both initial- (Arm A) and re-treatment (Arm B) with all-oral direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs).

METHODS

This prospective-observational cohort study included Japanese patients with chronic HCV-1/2/3 infections (n = 271: 183 in Arm A and 83 in Arm B), who had started receiving GLE/PIB. Primary end point was a sustained virological response (SVR) rate at week 12 (SVR12) after the end of GLE/PIB treatment (EOT).

RESULTS

SVR12 was achieved by 99.4% of patients (180/181: modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis excluding 2 patients lost to follow-up) in Arm A. One patient with an HCV-3b infection who discontinued at week 8 failed to achieve SVR12. SVR12 was achieved by 97.7% of patients (85/87: mITT excluding 1 patient lost to follow-up) in Arm B. Virological relapse occurred in 2 patients with HCV-1b, presenting common 5 loci of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) including A92 RASs in the NS5A lesion at baseline. Any adverse events (AEs) (grade ≥ 3) occurred in 8 patients (3.0%). 8 patients (3.0%) discontinued due to AEs, however, all of them achieved SVR12.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial and re-treatment with GLE/PIB are effective and safe for Japanese patients with HCV-1/2/3 in real-life settings. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism underlying treatment failures of GLE/PIB to completely eradicate HCV worldwide.

Sofosbuvir-ledipasvir with or without ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C genotype-1 and 6: real-world experience in Vietnam

BACKGROUND

Therapy with sofosbuvir-ledipasvir (SOF-LDV) has been very effective in chronic HCV genotype-1 in clinical trials and several real-world cohorts. However, the safety and efficacy data of SOF-LDV for HCV genotype-6 is quite limited.

METHODS

This open-label, clinical experience evaluated the safety and efficacy of SOF-LDV with or without ribavirin (RBV) for 12-24 weeks in patients with HCV genotype-1 (n=356) and genotype-6 (n=175) in Vietnam between September 2015 and May 2017.

RESULTS

Among 539 patients evaluated for therapy, 531 patients completed treatment with either SOF-LDV for 12 weeks (n=284); SOF-LDV + RBV for 12 weeks (n=109); SOF-LDV for 24 weeks (n=36); or SOF-LDV + RBV for 24 weeks (n=102). 45% were male with a mean age of 56.3 (range 20-87) years. The mean HCV RNA was 4,370,000 IU/ml and 72.7% had high viral load of >800,000 IU/ml. 17.3% failed prior interferon-based therapy and 52.5% had advanced fibrosis (F3-4) as noted by transient elastography. The overall sustained virological response (SVR12) rate was 99.6% (529/531). Virological relapses occurred in two patients with genotype-1 in the SOF-LDV for 12 weeks and SOF-LDV + RBV for 24 weeks treatment groups. There was no significant difference in demographic data and treatment outcomes between patients with genotype-1 versus 6. Adverse events were mild with all SOF-LDV regimens, but appeared to be more common with 24-week treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

SOF-LDV with or without RBV was highly effective and safe in Vietnamese patients with HCV genotype-1 and 6.

APASL HCV guidelines of virus-eradicated patients by DAA on how to monitor HCC occurrence and HBV reactivation

In the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) era for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, sustained virological response (SVR) is very high, but close attention must be paid to the possible occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients with co-infection who achieved SVR in short term. HCC occurrence was more often observed in patients with previous HCC history. We found occurrence of HCC in 178 (29.6%) of 602 patients with previous HCC history (15.4 months mean follow-up post-DAA initiation) but, in contrast, in only 604 (1.3%) of 45,870 patients without previous HCC history (18.2 months mean follow-up). Thus, in these guidelines, we recommend the following: in patients with previous HCC history, surveillance at 4-month intervals for HCC by ultrasonography (US) and tumor markers should be performed. In patients without previous HCC history, surveillance at 6- to 12-month intervals for HCC including US is recommended until the long-term DAA treatment effects, especially for the resolution of liver fibrosis, are confirmed. This guideline also includes recommendations on how to follow-up patients who have been infected with both HCV and HBV. When HCV was eradicated in these HBsAg-positive patients or patients with previous HBV infection (anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs-positive), it was shown that HBV reactivation or HBV DNA reappearance was observed in 67 (41.4%) of 162 or 12 (0.9%) of 1317, respectively. For these co-infected patients, careful attention should be paid to HBV reactivation for 24 weeks post-treatment.

Favorable outcome with direct-acting antiviral treatment in hepatitis C patients coinfected with HIV

AIM

To investigate the efficacy and safety of all-oral direct-acting antiviral treatments in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV.

METHODS

In all, 35 patients with HCV/HIV coinfection (22 patients with HCV genotype 1 infection, 6 with genotype 2, and 7 with genotype 3) were treated with sofosbuvir and ledipasvir (for genotype 1 patients) or sofosbuvir and ribavirin (for genotypes 2 and 3). Sustained virological response (SVR) at 24 weeks after end of treatment and adverse events were assessed.

RESULTS

The overall SVR rate was 91.4% (32/35). One patient with genotype 1 infection discontinued treatment on day 2 due to severe headache, which subsided after the cessation of medication; all other patients completed their treatment without severe adverse events. Two patients who had a relapse of HCV were infected with a genotype 3 strain. We observed hyperbilirubinemia in a patient with genotype 3, who was under antiretroviral therapy including atazanavir. He completed the treatment and achieved SVR.

CONCLUSION

Direct-acting antiviral treatment for patients coinfected with HCV/HIV is as effective as in patients infected only with HCV. It was generally well tolerated, except in one patient who discontinued the treatment due to severe headache.

International Liver Transplantation Society Asian Consensus on the Management of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Resource Limited Setting-From Noncirrhotic to Decompensated Disease and After Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

The population of Asia exceeds 4.4 billion people. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Asia is characterized by specific distribution of genotypes, lack of access to specific therapeutic agents, relatively high cost of treatment, and lack of experienced healthcare providers. Clear consensus on the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of HCV infection specific to the Asian region is a major unmet need. The consensus guidelines documents that have been published to date by major medical societies presume access to an array of direct acting antiviral agents and diagnostic tests that are not broadly applicable to resource limited settings, including Asia.

METHODS

To address the lack of an Asia-specific set of HCV treatment guidelines, we assembled a panel of 15 HCV experts in the field of hepatology from India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Pakistan, Philippines, and Mongolia convened in April 2017 to review the updated literature and provide recommendations on the diagnosis and management of chronic HCV infection that reflects local conditions.

RESULTS

An evidence-based comprehensive compilation of the literature supported by the graded recommendations from the expert panel for the optimization of the diagnosis, pretreatment, on treatment, and posttreatment assessments, and management of chronic HCV infection has been presented in this article.

CONCLUSIONS

With the evolving treatment landscape and addition of several new direct-acting antiviral agents and combination regimens into the therapeutic armamentarium, the current article may serve as a guide to the clinicians in optimizing the diagnosis and treatment selection for the management of chronic HCV infection in resource-limited settings.

Prognostic Analysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Hepatitis C Virus Infection Using Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Gene Profiles

BACKGROUND

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition genes have prognostic influence on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, the following four epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes were considered to be significantly influential: E-cadherin (CDH1), inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (ID2), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and transcription factor 3 (TCF3). A prognostic prediction model, NRISK4 = (-0.333 × [CDH1] - 0.400 × [ID2] + 0.339 × [MMP9] + 0.387 × [TCF3]) was constructed, but from patients with HCC with predominantly hepatitis B virus infection. We therefore aim to validate if this model also fits patients with HCC and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS

We collected HCC tissue samples from 67 patients with HCV infection. Discrimination of the NRISK4 was re-estimated using receiver operating curve analysis and we redefined the appropriate cutoff value. Using this cutoff value, patients were divided into two groups (high/low risk patients) and we compared their clinicopathological factors and prognosis.

RESULTS

Area under the curve of NRISK4 prediction was 0.70 and an appropriate cutoff value was 3.19 in this cohort. Patients were divided into high- (n = 25) and low-risk (n = 42) patients for prognosis. There were no significant differences in tumor factors between the two groups. Cancer-specific survival rates at 5 y after surgery on high- and low-risk patients were 45% and 68%, respectively (P = 0.02). At 2 y after surgery, recurrence rates were 68% and 37% among high- and low-risk patients, respectively (P = 0.01). Aggressive recurrences were highly observed in the high-risk patients (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

NRISK4 model could also successfully validate prognosis of patients with HCC with HCV infection similarly to in the previous report of patients with hepatitis B virus infection, especially in the early period after surgery.

Consensus on management of hepatitis C virus infection in resource-limited Ukraine and Commonwealth of Independent States regions

Globally, 69.6 million individuals were infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in 2016. Of the six major HCV genotypes (GT), the most predominant one is GT1, worldwide. The prevalence of HCV in Central Asia, which includes most of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), has been estimated to be 5.8% of the total global burden. The predominant genotype in the CIS and Ukraine regions has been reported to be GT1, followed by GT3. Inadequate HCV epidemiological data, multiple socio-economic barriers, and the lack of region-specific guidelines have impeded the optimal management of HCV infection in this region. In this regard, a panel of regional experts in the field of hepatology convened to discuss and provide recommendations on the diagnosis, treatment, and pre-, on-, and posttreatment assessment of chronic HCV infection and to ensure the optimal use of cost-effective antiviral regimens in the region. A comprehensive evaluation of the literature along with expert recommendations for the management of GT1-GT6 HCV infection with the antiviral agents available in the region has been provided in this review. This consensus document will help guide clinical decision-making during the management of HCV infection, further optimizing treatment outcomes in these regions.

Real-world virological efficacy and safety of daclatasvir/asunaprevir/beclabuvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in Japan

BACKGROUND

The virological efficacy and safety of the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimen consisting of daclatasvir, asunaprevir, and beclabuvir (DCV/ASV/BCV) for patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 have not been previously evaluated in Japanese real-world settings.

METHODS

In a Japanese nationwide multicenter study, the rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) and safety were analyzed in 91 patients who started the DCV/ASV/BCV regimen between November 2016 and July 2017. SVR rates were compared based on baseline patient characteristics.

RESULTS

More than 60% of patients had a history of failure to achieve SVR with interferon (IFN)-free DAA therapy. Overall, 50 of 91 patients (54.9%) achieved SVR. Multivariate analysis identified a history of failure with IFN-free DAA therapy and pretreatment HCV RNA levels as factors significantly associated with treatment failure. Whereas the SVR rate in patients without a history of IFN-free DAA therapy was 91.7% (33 of 36 patients), it was only 30.9% (17 of 55 patients) among patients with a history of IFN-free DAA therapy. The rate of discontinuation due to an adverse event was 4.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients treated with the DCV/ASV/BCV regimen have a history of a failure to achieve SVR with previous IFN-free DAA therapy. SVR rate was not as high as that in pre-approval clinical trial of this regimen in IFN-free DAA-naïve patients. In addition, most patients with a history of failure with IFN-free DAA therapy, particularly the DCV/ASV regimen, showed resistance to this regimen.

Interferon at the cellular, individual, and population level in hepatitis C virus infection: Its role in the interferon-free treatment era

The advent of powerful direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C. DAAs cure nearly all patients with short duration, oral treatments. Significant efforts are now underway to optimize DAA-based treatments. We discuss the potential role of interferon in this optimization. Clinical studies present compelling evidence that DAAs perform better in treatment-naive individuals than in individuals who previously failed treatment with interferon, a surprising correlation because interferon and DAAs are thought to act independently. Recent mathematical models explore a mechanistic hypothesis underlying this correlation. The hypothesis invokes the action of interferon at the cellular, individual, and population levels. Strong interferon responses prevent the productive infection of cells, reduce viral replication, and impede the development of resistance to DAAs in infected individuals and improve cure rates elicited by DAAs in treated populations. The models develop descriptions of these processes, integrate them into a comprehensive framework, and capture clinical data quantitatively, providing a successful test of the hypothesis. Individuals with strong endogenous interferon responses thus present a promising subpopulation for reducing DAA treatment durations. This review discusses the conceptual advances made by the models, highlights the new insights they unravel, and examines their applicability to optimize DAA-based treatments.

Programmed death-ligand 1 expression is an unfavorable prognostic factor of hepatocellular carcinoma after archiving sustained virologic response for hepatitis C virus infection

The aim of the present study was to study the pathological prognostic factor of initial hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after archiving sustained virologic response (SVR) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A single-center retrospective analysis was performed for patients who underwent hepatectomy between 2003 and 2017. We studied clinico-pathological findings of resected liver tissues in 35 patients with HCC after SVR treated by interferon (IFN group) and 13 patients with HCC after SVR treated by direct acting antivirals (DAA group). We also performed immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), cytokeratin 19, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5). PD-L1 positive HCC was observed in 6 cases of the IFN group and 4 cases of the DAA group. In the IFN group, in univariate analysis of recurrence free survival after surgery (RFS), the PD-L1 expression had a statistically significant impact (HR=6.01; P=0.02). In the multivariate analysis of RFS, PD-L1 expression significantly remained (HR=5.01; P=0.03). For both RFS and overall survival, Kaplan-Meier curves confirmed that patients with PD-L1 expression showed significantly worse prognosis (log-rank test P<0.01). Nuclear grade, RGS5 expression, and EpCAM expression were significantly higher in the PD-L1-positive HCC group compared with the PD-L1-negative HCC group (P<0.05). Therefore, PD-L1 expression may be an independent prognostic factor of surgically resected HCC after achieving SVR.

The Efficacy and Safety of Direct-acting Antiviral Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C Patients: A Single Center Study

Background/Aims

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has been shown to achieve a high rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) and favorable outcomes in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. We investigated the virologic response and its clinical impact in CHC patients.

Methods

CHC patients with compensated liver function treated with DAAs between 2016 and 2017 were included for retrospective analysis. We analyzed baseline characteristics and virologic and biochemical responses at on-treatment 4 weeks, end of treatment, and post-treatment 12 weeks. Fibrosis was measured as liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography (FibroScan). Adverse events were monitored during the treatment period.

Results

A total of 135 patients (61.5% with genotype [GT] 1b and 38.5% with GT 2a) were enrolled 47.4% were male, 79.3% were treatment naive, and 30.4% had cirrhosis. SVR 12 was observed in 97.6% (81/83) in the GT 1b and 98.1% (51/52) in the GT 2a; treatment with daclatasvir+asunaprevir was the most commonly used in GT 1b (55/83), and sofosbuvir+ribavirin was the most commonly used in GT 2a (49/52). The median change of liver stiffness measurement at two time points using the signed rank test was -3.2 kPa in patients who underwent transient elastography before treatment and at SVR 12 (n=25). The most common adverse events were anemia, dyspepsia, and insomnia. One GT 2a patient treated with sofosbuvir+ribavirin stopped the treatment at 8 weeks due to symptomatic bradyarrhythmia; however, he recovered spontaneously and achieved SVR 12.

Conclusions

DAA treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b and 2a resulted in a high rate of sustained virologic response and improvement of liver fibrosis score.

The efficacy and safety of glecaprevir plus pibrentasvir in 141 patients with severe renal impairment: a prospective, multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Patients with chronic hepatitis C are often complicated by chronic kidney disease (CKD).

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with severe renal impairment.

METHODS

In a prospective, multicentre study involving 35 medical institutions, 832 genotype 1-3 patients were treated with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. The efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir were analysed for patients with CKD stage 4 or 5. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with the most frequently observed adverse event. In patients undergoing haemodialysis, a pharmacokinetic study was conducted to investigate the dialysability of the drugs: plasma samples were obtained from the arterial and venous sides of a dialyser to serially measure drug concentrations.

RESULTS

The subjects comprised 141 patients (32 with CKD stage 4 and 109 with CKD stage 5), of whom 100 were undergoing haemodialysis. All but one stage 5 CKD patients undergoing haemodialysis achieved sustained virologic response (99.3%). Adverse events were observed in 39.7% of subjects: pruritus was the most frequent (30.5%), and was significantly associated with haemodialysis. In the pharmacokinetic study, no arterial-venous differences in the plasma concentrations of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir were detected during the haemodialysis sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir was highly effective and safe in chronic hepatitis C patients with severe renal impairment. Haemodialysis was associated with increased incidence of pruritus, which was the most frequent adverse event, but had little or no influence on the drug concentrations, which indicated that their dialysability is very low and that no dose modification is required in patients undergoing haemodialysis. (UMIN registration no. 000032073).

Usefulness of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for evaluating the potential for early development of hepatocellular carcinoma after HCV eradication by direct-acting antiviral treatment

Objective: The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not uncommon in patients who achieve eradication of the hepatitis C virus through direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment. The aim of this study was to identify the patients at high risk for novel HCC development after a sustained virologic response (SVR) by DAA treatment. Patients and Methods: A total of 518 patients with no history of HCC treatment and who achieved SVR by DAA treatment were evaluated retrospectively. The correlations between HCC development and the patients' characteristics were evaluated. For patients who underwent gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography, the relationship between the imaging findings and subsequent HCC development was also assessed. Results: HCC developed newly in 22 patients, and the 1-year and 3-year cumulative HCC rates were 2.0% and 8.5%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a FIB-4 index >4.0 and a post-treatment α-fetoprotein >4.0 ng/ml were significant risk factors for HCC. In 26 of 118 patients who underwent an MRI before DAA treatment, a non-hypervascular hypo-intense nodule was seen in the hepatobiliary phase, and in 6 of 182 patients who underwent a CT, a non-hypervascular hypo-enhanced nodule was seen in the delayed phase. The sensitivity and specificity of the MRI-positive findings for the subsequent development of HCC were 0.92 and 0.87, respectively, and those of the CT were 0.40 and 0.99, respectively. In multivariate analysis of patients who underwent an MRI, a non-hypervascular hypo-intense nodule was the only factor that was significantly related to HCC development (HR 32.4, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was found to be reliable for risk evaluation of subsequent HCC development in patients after SVR by DAA treatment. Patients with a non-hypervascular hypo-intense nodule need more careful observation for incident HCC.

Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Small Dense Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Increase after One Year of Treatment with Direct-acting Antivirals in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Objective Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection exert a significantly high sustained viral response (SVR), and patients experience a rebound increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol levels. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a highly reproducible and non-invasive parameter for assessing the atherosclerotic process, and the small dense (sd) LDL level is useful for clinically evaluating the atherogenic risk. Methods A total of 48 patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with DAAs. All patients exhibited an SVR 24 weeks later. We compared the metabolic profiles of the patients, including the sdLDL and IMT values, at the start of DAA treatment with those after one year of treatment. We verified whether the HCV clearance after the administration of DAAs is associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Results The sdLDL, %sdLDL (sdLDL/LDL), and LDL values were exacerbated after a year of treatment; however, the triglyceride level, glycated hemoglobin level, insulin resistance, and body weight remained unaltered. The max-IMT was increased after a year compared to that at the start of treatment. Differences in the max-IMT (dmax-IMT) were greater in men than in women; however, no correlation was observed between the dmax-IMT and genotype, fibrosis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and dialysis status. The %sdLDL at the start and a year later was positively correlated with the dmax-IMT. No correlation was observed among various factors including the LDL, triglyceride, body mass index, insulin resistance and dmax-IMT. In uni- and multivariate analyses, a significant correlation was observed between %sdLDL≥16% at the start of treatment and the sex and dmax-IMT. Conclusion Because the sdLDL and IMT values were exacerbated after a year of DAA treatment, atherosclerosis must be evaluated in patients achieving an SVR.

Combinations of two drugs among NS3/4A inhibitors, NS5B inhibitors and non-selective antiviral agents are effective for hepatitis C virus with NS5A-P32 deletion in humanized-liver mice

BACKGROUND

The emergence of a deletion mutant at hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A-P32 (P32del) has recently been reported in a subset of chronic hepatitis C patients who experience virologic failure after direct-acting antiviral drug (DAA) treatment. This mutation confers extremely high resistance to NS5A inhibitors. No effective treatment has been established for cases with this mutation.

METHODS

We used a JFH1-based recombinant virus with NS5A from a genotype 1b strain to introduce a P32del mutation. We inoculated human hepatocyte chimeric mice with sera from a patient with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir therapy failure carrying a genotype 1b HCV with NS5A L31M and P32del or from a DAA-naïve patient carrying wild-type virus.

RESULTS

JFH1-based chimeric viruses with P32del showed sufficient levels of replication for in vitro assay despite the suppression of viral growth and infectious virus production. Variants with P32del exhibited severe resistance to all tested NS5A inhibitors, including daclatasvir, ledipasvir, elbasvir and velpatasvir, but were as susceptible to NS3/4A inhibitors, NS5B inhibitors, interferon alfa-2b, and ribavirin as wild-type viruses in the in vitro assay. The P32del mutant virus caused persistent infection in all inoculated chimeric mice with high viral titer and frequency. The virus was resistant to the ledipasvir/GS-558093 (a nucleotide analog inhibitor of NS5B polymerase) regimen but susceptible to either simeprevir plus GS-558093 or peg-interferon alfa-2b, compared to the wild-type virus.

CONCLUSION

Therapies combining at least two drugs among NS3/4A inhibitors, NS5B inhibitors and non-selective antiviral agents may be effective for HCV-infected patients with NS5A-P32del.

Interval between hepatocellular carcinoma treatment and interferon-free direct-acting antiviral agents against hepatitis C is necessary to suppress tumor recurrence

Interferon (IFN) has been identified to suppress carcinogenesis when used for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Treatment with IFN-free direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) is an acceptable alternative, even in elderly patients or patients who have been treated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), because it has a lower incidence of side effects and higher sustained virological response (SVR) rate compared with IFN treatment. However, the suppression of carcinogenesis by DAAs is unclear. In the present study, 19 patients who underwent DAA treatment following treatment for HCC between January 2015 and March 2017 were retrospectively investigated. The clinical data were compared between 9 patients with HCC recurrence following DAA treatment (recurrence group) and 10 patients without HCC recurrence (no-recurrence group). The 1-year cumulative recurrence rate of HCC following SVR was as high as 50.2%. Age and sex did not significantly differ between the two groups, and the average number of HCC treatments prior to DAA treatment was also not significantly different between the recurrence and no-recurrence groups (3.2 and 2.2, respectively). The median interval between the final HCC treatment and the commencement of DAA treatment was 88 days in the recurrence group, which was significantly less compared with 790 days in the no-recurrence group (P=0.018). An interval of 120 days or more from final HCC treatment to the commencement of DAA treatment was a significant independent factor of no HCC recurrence following DAA treatment (P=0.028). A high HCC recurrence rate was identified following DAA treatment in patients with a history of HCC treatment. Therefore, there should be at least a 4-month interval from the final HCC treatment to the commencement of DAA treatment to ensure no HCC recurrence.

Trends and Efficacy of Interferon-Free Anti-hepatitis C Virus Therapy in the Region of High Prevalence of Elderly Patients, Cirrhosis, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World, Nationwide, Multicenter Study of 10 688 Patients in Japan

Background

We investigated changes in patient characteristics, rate of sustained virologic response (SVR), and factors associated with SVR after anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens in real-world practice in Japan, where patients with HCV are characterized by older age and high prevalence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Changes in patient characteristics and SVR rates were evaluated from medical records among 10 688 patients who started interferon (IFN)-free DAA therapy between September 2014 and June 2018 in a nationwide, multicenter study. Factors associated with failure of SVR were analyzed. In particular, effects of cirrhosis or history of HCC on SVR were assessed by exact matching.

Results

Patient age was becoming younger and baseline liver fibrosis was becoming milder over time. Overall SVR rate was 95.4%. The SVR rates increased over time in patients without a history of IFN-free DAA therapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that cirrhosis was unfavorably associated with achievement of SVR in both patients with genotype 1 (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–2.21) and genotype 2 (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.01–2.78). Comparisons after exact matching showed that the SVR rate was significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis than without it, whereas patients with and without a history of HCC had similar SVR rates.

Conclusions

Background characteristics of patients who undergo IFN-free DAA therapy are changing in Japan. Patients without a history of IFN-free DAA therapy have high SVR rates. Exact matching confirmed that cirrhosis significantly influences the achievement of SVR in real-world settings.

Efficacy and safety of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis patients infected with genotype 2a in Japan

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of community-based ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus ribavirin therapy for non-cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2a infection in a real-world setting.

METHODS

Patients with HCV genotype 2a infection were enrolled in this study and received the therapy for 16 weeks at 11 specialized centers in Japan between October 2016 and July 2017. Among the 98 patients participating in the study, four patients were excluded because of the presence of cirrhosis and/or genotype 2b infection. The remaining 94 patients were subjected to the analysis.

RESULTS

The patients consisted of 38 women and 56 men, with a median age of 63 years. The rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) was 97.9%. The SVR rates were similar between patients with and without ribavirin dose reduction (96.0% vs. 98.6%, respectively). Of the two patients in whom treatment failed, one patient completed the treatment but relapsed at 4 weeks post-treatment, whereas the other did not show virologic response and therefore discontinued treatment at week 9. At baseline, both patients had non-structural protein (NS)5A resistance-associated substitution (RAS) L31M but no NS3 RAS. At the time of relapse, the patient had NS5A RAS F28S. At the premature treatment discontinuation, the non-responder had NS3 RAS D168V and NS5A RAS T24S. Ribavirin-induced anemia was the most frequent adverse event.

CONCLUSION

Community-based, 16-week, ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus ribavirin therapy was highly efficacious and safe in non-cirrhotic patients with HCV genotype 2a infection in a real-world setting.

Clinical Evaluation of a Newly Developed Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay for Hepatitis C Virus Core Antigen in Japan

An advanced and fully automated chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay for the hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCVcAg) was recently developed in Japan. We aimed to evaluate its clinical utility. The new Fujirebio assay (Lumipulse Presto HCVcAg [LP-Presto]) was compared with 2 conventional assays (Lumipulse Ortho HCVcAg [LP-Ortho] and Abbott's Architect HCVcAg). Basic assessments of LP-Presto (reproducibility, stability, range of quantitation, and specificity) were performed on 220 frozen sera (83 positive and 137 negative by LP-Ortho) and 206 fresh sera (all negative by LP-Ortho). Correlation analysis was performed and the rates of concordance for each assay were determined. Additionally, the frozen sera of 42 hyperimmunoglobulinemia patients, including 3 unmeasurable by LP-Ortho, were tested by LP-Presto. All the basic assessments of LP-Presto were consistent with the results of LP-Ortho and Architect. The concordance rate between LP-Presto and LP-Ortho for the 220 frozen sera was 99.5% (219/220), and that between LP-Presto and Architect was 99.1% (218/220). LP-Presto (HCVcAg cut-off value; 20 fmol/L) was fully consistent with LP-Ortho (100%), which found 343 sera negative for HCVcAg. All 42 hyperimmunoglobulinemic sera were measurable using LP-Presto. In conclusion, the performance of LP-Presto was rapid and reliable, and nonspecific test results due to hyperimmunoglobulinemia were reduced when LP-Presto was used. Therefore, LP-Presto is a high-quality HCVcAg assay that shows promising applications.

Glecaprevir and Pibrentasvir for Japanese Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Genotype 3 Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection: A Report of Three Cases

The efficacy and safety of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir in Japanese patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or genotype 3 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is yet to be clarified. This is because no or only a few patients have been included in Japanese phase 3 trials. We herein report for the first time the successful treatment of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir in three Japanese patients with HIV and genotype 3 HCV coinfection as well as hemophilia. Glecaprevir and pibrentasvir treatment is safe and effective for Japanese patients with genotype 3 HCV and HIV coinfection.

Predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence after direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

AIM

The predictors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment were investigated.

METHODS

A total of 1174 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection were treated with DAA therapy (sofosbuvir and ledipasvir [n = 615], sofosbuvir and ribavirin [n = 380], and daclatasvir and asunaprevir [n = 179]) and achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). The HCC development rate and the factors that might contribute to the development of HCC after the end of DAA treatment were analyzed.

RESULTS

During the median observation period of 537 days, HCC developed in 33 cases. The incidence of HCC was 1.9%, 3.2%, and 4.1% at 1, 1.5, and 2 years after the end of DAA therapy, respectively. Multivariate analysis with pre- and post-treatment factors identified the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.021-1.178; P = 0.011) and post-treatment α-fetoprotein (AFP) (HR = 1.11; 95% CI, 1.054-1.172; P < 0.001) as independent factors that contributed to the development of HCC after DAA therapy. Using these identified parameters, a new scoring system (0 to 2 points) was established. Patients in the high-score group (2 points) could be identified as having a significantly higher risk of HCC development, and the respective 1- and 2-year cumulative incidence rates of HCC were 6.1% and 14.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

A high FIB-4 index and a high post-treatment AFP at the end of DAA treatment were the independent predictors for developing HCC after DAA treatment. For patients with these risk factors, extra attention to the possibility of HCC development is needed.

Efficacy of direct-acting antiviral treatment in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis: A multicenter study

AIM

Although the development of new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has markedly advanced, the effects of cirrhosis on DAA treatment remain unclear. We aimed to clarify the impact of cirrhosis on DAA treatment of patients infected with HCV.

METHODS

This large-scale, multicenter, retrospective study consisted of 2130 HCV genotype 1b-infected patients who were treated with one of the following DAA combination therapies: asunaprevir/daclatasvir (ASV/DCV), ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), or paritaprevir/ombitasvir/ritonavir (PTV/OBV/r). Ninety-two patients (4.3%) previously received DAA-based treatment. Seven hundred and forty-five patients (34.9%) had cirrhosis.

RESULTS

Overall, the sustained virologic response (SVR) rate was 93.0%. The SVR rates in patients who received ASV/DCV, LDV/SOF, or PTV/OBV/r were 90.0%, 96.9%, and 97.6%, respectively. The SVR rate in patients with cirrhosis (89.1%) was significantly lower than that in patients without cirrhosis (95.1%, P = 6.94 × 10^-7 ). In the multivariate analysis for the overall cohort, absence of cirrhosis (P = 1.26 × 10^-3 ), no previous DAA-based treatment (P = 2.54 × 10^-14 ), low HCV-RNA levels (P = 1.64 × 10^-6 ), wild-type non-structural protein 5A L31/Y93 (P = 7.33 × 10^-13 ), and DAA regimen (LDV/SOF or PTV/OBV/r) (P = 1.92 × 10^-14 ) were independent factors contributing to SVR. Except for patients with DAA-based treatment history, absence of cirrhosis (P = 2.15 × 10^-3 ; odds ratio, 2.51) was an independent factor contributing to SVR in 2038 DAA-naïve patients.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the presence of cirrhosis reduces the SVR rate of DAA treatment, regardless of the type of DAA treatment.

Sustained virologic response after eight weeks of treatment with sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, and ribavirin in a decompensated cirrhotic patient with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b

A 68-year-old Japanese man with decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection was treated with sofosbuvir (SOF; 400 mg/day), ledipasvir (LDV; 90 mg/day), and ribavirin (RBV; 400 mg/day). Before treatment, his Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores were 10 (class C) and 13 points, respectively. Although RBV was initially given at two-thirds the normal dose due to anemia, his hemoglobin level gradually declined, and RBV was reduced to 200 mg daily on day 11, and 200 mg every other day on day 14. His alanine aminotransferase level gradually decreased during combination therapy; and HCV-RNA was undetectable on day 28. He complained of fatigue from day 49, and RBV was ceased. On day 56, he asked to discontinue treatment because of strong fatigue and insomnia. As hepatic encephalopathy occurred just after the cessation of direct-acting antivirals, diuretics were discontinued, and treatment with synthetic disaccharides and intractable antibiotics were given, after which his consciousness returned to normal. Ascites gradually disappeared, and a sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved. At 1.5 years after treatment, his Child-Pugh and MELD scores had improved to 6 (class A) and 10 points, respectively. Although he did not experience hepatic encephalopathy during the observation period, his blood ammonia concentration persistently increased. We reported a case of decompensated cirrhosis in a patient who achieved SVR with SOF/LDV plus RBV for 8 weeks. Although his liver function improved after treatment, careful long-term observation is required for complications of liver cirrhosis, even after HCV elimination.

Real-World Study on Sofosbuvir-based Therapies in Asian Americans With Chronic Hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist with regard to treatment outcomes in Asian Americans with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We evaluated sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens in a national cohort of Asian Americans.

METHODS

Eligible Asian Americans patients with CHC who had posttreatment follow-up of 24 weeks for SOF -based therapies from December 2013 to June 2017 were enrolled from 11 sites across the United States. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response (SVR) rates at posttreatment weeks 12 and 24. Secondary endpoints were to evaluate safety by tolerability and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Among 231 patients screened, 186 were enrolled. At baseline, 31% (57/186) patients were cirrhotic, 34% (63/186) were treatment experienced. Most of the subjects (42%, 79/186) received ledispavir/SOF therapy. The overall SVR12 was 95%, ranging from 86% in genotype (GT) 1b on SOF+ribavirin to 100% in GT 1b patients on ledipasvir/SOF at subgroup analyses. SVR12 was significantly lower in cirrhotic than in noncirrhotic patients [88% (50/57) vs. 98% (126/129), P<0.01]. Stratified by GT, SVR12 were: 96% (43/45) in GT 1a; 93% (67/72) in GT 1b; 100% (23/23) in GT 2; 90% (19/21) in GT 3; 100% (1/1) in GT 4; 83% (5/6) in GT 5; and 100% (16/16) in GT 6. Cirrhotic patients with treatment failure were primarily GT 1, (GT 1a, n=2; GT 1b, n=4) with 1 GT 5 (n=1). Patients tolerated the treatment without serious AEs. Late relapse occurred in 1 patient after achieving SVR12.

CONCLUSIONS

In Asian Americans with CHC, SOF-based regimens were well tolerated without serious AEs and could achieve high SVR12 regardless of hepatitis C viral infection GT.

Efficacy and safety of elbasvir/grazoprevir for Japanese patients with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C complicated by chronic kidney disease, including those undergoing hemodialysis: A post hoc analysis of a multicenter study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of elbasvir/grazoprevir in genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C Japanese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those undergoing hemodialysis.

METHODS

This post hoc analysis of a multicenter, retrospective study included patients who had received elbasvir/grazoprevir. CKD was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² . The sustained virologic response (SVR) rate and frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events were assessed in patients with CKD.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 155 men and 182 women. The median eGFR level at baseline was 69.6 mL/min/1.73 m² (range, 3.0-128.5 mL/min/1.73 m² ). Among the 337 patients, 109 (32.3%) had CKD: 72, 14, and 23 (including 20 hemodialysis) had CKD stages 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The SVR rates according to the baseline CKD stages were 98.1% (51/52) in stage 1, 98.3% (173/176) in stage 2, 93.9% (46/49) in stage 3a, 100% (23/23) in stage 3b, 100% (14/14) in stage 4, and 100% (23/23) in stage 5. All 20 patients undergoing hemodialysis achieved SVR. There was no significant decrease from baseline in the median eGFR level throughout the treatment period among the patients with CKD. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was 6.4% (7/109) among the patients with CKD and 9.7% (22/228) among the patients without CKD (not significant, P = 0.323).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated that elbasvir and grazoprevir are highly effective and safe for genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C Japanese patients with CKD, including those undergoing hemodialysis.

A pan-genotypic Hepatitis C Virus NS5A amplification method for reliable genotyping and resistance testing

BACKGROUND

Chronic infection with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is associated with the risk of progressive liver disease. Although, HCV treatment options and viral cure rates have tremendously increased over the last decade, all currently licensed combination therapies contain inhibitors of the replication complex NS5A. Resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) in NS5A can limit the efficacy of therapy; however, resistance testing is routinely not recommended for all patients. Notably, pan-genotypic combinations have been approved, however the correct identification of the HCV genotype is still required for treatment decisions and is a good predictor for treatment success.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was the establishment of a pan-genotypic NS5A amplification method for reliable genotyping and simultaneous resistance testing in a fast and cheap routine diagnostic setup.

STUDY DESIGN

Pan-genotypic degenerated nested PCR primer were designed and tested in 262 HCV-patients. The collection included samples from genotypes 1-7 and the median viral load was 1.07 × 10⁶ IU/ml (range 248-21 × 10⁶ IU/ml).

RESULTS

Amplification of the expected 747bp fragment was successful in 257 of 262 (98.1%) samples including samples <1000 IU/ml. The direct comparison of the genotype information obtained with core sequencing to those obtained by NS5A prediction showed high concordance (97.3%) and discrepancies occurred only for relatively rare subtypes. Resistance analysis using Geno2Pheno_[HCV] showed NS5A-RAS in 23 of 257 (8.9%) of samples.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully developed a routine diagnostic method for pan-genotypic amplification of NS5A. This amplicon can be used for simultaneous genotyping and resistance testing for enhancing and improving routine HCV diagnostic.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir with or without ribavirin for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in Taiwan

Background

The real-world data for the effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) with or without ribavirin (RBV) in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) infection remain limited in Taiwan.

Methods

A total of 273 chronic HCV-1 patients receiving 8, 12, or 24 weeks of SOF/LDV with or without RBV were enrolled. The sustained virologic response rate at week 12 off-therapy (SVR₁₂) by evaluable population (EP) and per-protocol population (PP) were assessed for effectiveness. The treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse events (AEs) and serious AE rate were assessed for safety. Baseline patient characteristics and on-treatment HCV viral kinetics associated with SVR₁₂ were analyzed.

Results

The SVR₁₂ rates by EP and PP analyses were 96.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 93.9%-98.3%) and 97.5% (95% CI: 94.8%-98.8%), respectively. The rates of treatment discontinuation due to AE and serious AE were 0.4% and 4.4%, respectively. Seven patients with true virologic failure were relapsers. In 2 patients who were lost-to follow-up, one expired at treatment week 3 due to pneumonia which was considered not related to treatment, and one declined follow-up at off-therapy week 4. The SVR₁₂ rates were comparable in terms of baseline patient characteristics and viral decline at week 4 of treatment.

Conclusions

SOF/LDV with or without RBV for 8–24 weeks is well tolerated and achieves a high SVR₁₂ rate in patients with HCV-1 infection in Taiwan.

The effectiveness of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir in the treatment of hepatitis C in thalassaemia major patients and their effect on haematological factors

Context

Patients with thalassaemia are at risk of infections such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to their repeated blood transfusions; meanwhile, the treatment of thalassaemia patients who had developed HCV infection is a controversial issue.

Aims

Although the effectiveness of direct-acting antivirals on HCV infection has been confirmed, their side-effects as well as effects on haematological factors due to the resultant need for blood transfusion remain to be further understood.

Materials and Methods

In this study, 61 patients with major beta thalassaemia and HCV infection, and who had a history of interferon treatment failure were examined. The patients underwent a 24-week treatment with sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir (DAC). Sustained virological response 12 was used to assess response to treatment. At the end of the study, the need for blood transfusion and serum ferritin was evaluated.

Results

About 98.4% of the patients responded to the treatment, and only one patient with genotype 1b did not respond positively. No significant complications necessitating treatment cessation were observed, and all the patients tolerated the treatment well. The level of liver enzymes showed a significant reduction 12 weeks after the treatment. The need for blood transfusions in patients before treatment was averagely 1.595 ± 0.65 bag per month, in which 1.593 ± 0.64 bags were received after treatment (P = 0.9). This regimen did not affect the amount of anaemia in patients and did not differentiate the need for blood transfusions. The rate of haemoglobin before treatment was 9.5 ± 1.42 g/dl, which reached 9.6 ± 1.6 g/dl after treatment (P = 0.54). Ferritin levels decreased significantly (from 1948.08 ± 1539.54 to 1315.73 ± 1207.67 ng/ml) (P = 0.001) in the patients after the treatment.

Conclusion

Combination of SOF and DAC is an effective and tolerable treatment regimen without affect on the amount of anaemia in patients and did not differentiate the need for blood transfusions.

Sofosbuvir and ledipasvir are associated with high sustained virologic response and improvement of health-related quality of life in East Asian patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Although HCV infection is highly prevalent in East Asia, these patients have been underrepresented in HRQL studies. Here, we assess HRQL in East Asian HCV patients treated with different anti-HCV regimens. Patients completed Short Form-36 (SF-36) before, during and after treatment. A total of 989 HCV patients were enrolled in two phase 3 clinical trials [China: 60.2%, South Korea: 22.4%, Taiwan: 17.4%; genotype 1: 55.3%, treatment-naïve: 57.5%; cirrhosis: 14.0%]. Patients received pegylated interferon, sofosbuvir and ribavirin (Peg-IFN + SOF + RBV; n = 130, genotypes 1, 6) or SOF + RBV (n = 475, all genotypes) or SOF and ledipasvir (LDV/SOF; n = 384, genotype 1). The SVR-12 rates were 94.6%, 96.2% and 99.2%, respectively (P = 0.005). During treatment, Peg-IFN + SOF + RBV-treated group experienced significant declines in most HRQL scores (by the end of treatment, mean decline up to -12.0 points, all P < 0.05). Patients on SOF + RBV had milder HRQL impairment (up to -5.8 points, P < 0.05 for 5 of 8 HRQL domains). In contrast, patients receiving IFN- and RBV-free regimen with LDV/SOF had their HRQL scores improve (mean up to +4.3 points, P < 0.0001 for 3 of 8 scales). In multivariate analysis, receiving Peg-IFN + SOF + RBV was consistently independently associated with HRQL impairment during treatment (β: -10.3 to -16.4) and after achieving SVR-12 (β: -4.4 to -9.1) (all P < 0.01). The results were reproduced in a subgroup of patients enrolled in China. We conclude that in East Asian patients with HCV, HRQL improved from baseline after treatment with LDV/SOF but not with Peg-IFN + RBV-containing or Peg-IFN-free RBV-containing regimens. The HRQL impairment associated with the use of Peg-IFN persists even after achieving sustained virologic clearance.

Risk factors for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C without sustained response to combination therapy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Although antiviral therapy reduces development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), HCC often develops in patients with non-sustained virologic response (non-SVR). We aimed to evaluate risk factors for HCC in HCV patients with non-SVR.

METHODS

From March 2002 to December 2013, 800 patients with CHC who had received combined pegylated interferon (peg-IFN)/ribavirin (RBV) therapy without achieving SVR were enrolled. Main outcome measure was HCC development. Variables were cirrhosis, platelet count, α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI), and IL28B polymorphism (CT + TT).

RESULTS

One-hundred of 800 non-SVR patients developed HCC within a median 53.5-months follow-up. Cumulative incidence of HCC for all patients was 1.4%, 5.6% and 12.3%, respectively, at 1st, 3rd and 5th years of follow-up. In univariate analysis, patients who developed HCC tended to have LC (p< 0.001), lower platelet counts (<150 × 109/l, p < 0.001), higher AFP levels (≥20 ng/ml, p < 0.001), higher Fib-4 levels (p < 0.001), higher APRI levels (p < 0.001), IL 28B polymorphism (CT + TT) (p < 0.001) and higher incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.019). Multivariate analysis in overall patients revealed that cirrhosis (HR: 2.94, 95% CI: 1.81-4.77, p < 0.001), IL28B rs12979860 (CT + TT) polymorphisms (HR: 3.22, 95% CI: 2.17-4.78, p < 0.001), and high APRI levels (≥2.57) (HR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.47-3.67, p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for HCC.

CONCLUSION

Liver cirrhosis, high APRI levels, and IL28B rs12979860 at baseline are independent risk factors for HCC development in patients without SVR after peg-IFN combination therapy.

Serum asunaprevir concentrations showing correlation with the extent of liver fibrosis as a factor inducing liver injuries in patients with genotype-1b hepatitis C virus receiving daclatasvir plus asunaprevir therapy

AIMS

Liver injury can occur during antiviral therapies with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), potentially necessitating discontinuation of the therapies, with consequent worsening of the sustained viral response (SVR) rates, in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). To clarify the mechanisms involved in serum transaminase level elevation, we performed a retrospective evaluation of the serum concentrations of daclatasvir and asunaprevir, both classified as DAAs, in patients receiving treatment with a combination of the two drugs.

METHODS

Subjects were 278 Japanese patients with genotype-1b HCV who received daclatasvir plus asunaprevir therapy for more than 4 weeks. Serum concentrations of both the DAAs were measured at 4 weeks after the initiation of therapy.

RESULT

Liver injuries including serum AST and/or ALT level elevation to 150 U/L or over were found in 34 patients (12.2%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified serum asunaprevir concentrations as being significantly associated with developing liver injury, with an odds ratio of 1.046 (95% confidence interval 1.011-1.082, p<0.05). Serum asunaprevir concentrations showed correlation with the extent of liver fibrosis, estimated by peripheral platelets counts and serum albumin levels and baseline and FIB4 index and serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) levels at 4 weeks of the therapy; the concentrations were significantly higher among patients showing 3.0 or more of M2BPGi levels than among those with the levels less than 3.0; on the other hand, no such correlation/difference was found in serum daclatasvir concentrations.

CONCLUSION

High serum concentrations of serum asunaprevir, which were associated with the extent of liver fibrosis, appear to provoke the occurrence of liver injury in patients with genotype-1b HCV receiving combined daclatasvir plus asunaprevir therapy.

Quantitative analysis of serum chemokines associated with treatment failure of direct-acting antivirals in chronic hepatitis C

Although serum chemokine levels have been reported to influence the outcome of interferon-based treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C, their effect on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) response to direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), which can achieve high rates of a sustained virological response (SVR), is largely unknown. To clarify this relationship, 9 chemokines (eotaxin, GRO-α, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, and SDF-1α) were quantified before, during, and after DAA treatment using serum samples obtained from 57 patients with chronic hepatitis C. All baseline median chemokine levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in healthy subjects (P < 0.05). In particular, lower MIP-1β (≤71.5 pg/mL) and higher RANTES (>671.5 pg/mL) levels were significantly associated with patients who failed to clear HCV RNA (P = 0.0039 and 0.013, respectively). Prediction of a clinical response based on a combination of these chemokines demonstrated high sensitivity (82%), specificity (85%), negative predictive value (95%), and area under the curve (0.833). The non-SVR rate (56.3%; 9 of 16) was significantly higher in patients with low MIP-1β and high RANTES compared with other combinations. Moreover, baseline MIP-1β and RANTES were both additive and independent for predicting a non-SVR. Apart from an increase in eotaxin, all chemokines became decreased in patients with a SVR. In conclusion, a combination of serum MIP-1β and RANTES levels may be predictive of a treatment response to DAAs in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Real-world efficacy and safety of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a nationwide multicenter study by the Japanese Red Cross Liver Study Group

BACKGROUND

We aimed to describe the real-world efficacy and safety of combination therapy with ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 (GT1) infection.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis of a prospective, nationwide, multicenter registry included GT1-infected patients treated with LDV/SOF for 12 weeks. We assessed the rate of sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12), incidence of adverse events, and serum markers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

RESULTS

Among the 1461 patients included (mean age, 69 years; 29.5% aged > 75 years; cirrhosis, 23.8%; history of treatment for HCC, 10.9%), the overall SVR12 rate was 98.4% (1438/1461). Factors associated with treatment failure were cirrhosis (odds ratio, 4.19; p = 0.014) and resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) in NS5A at baseline (odds ratio, 7.78; p = 0.0004). The SVR12 rate in patients with cirrhosis and NS5A RASs was 93.0% compared to 100% in patients without cirrhosis or NS5A RASs. In patients with SVR, the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3, and Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) decreased from baseline to end of treatment (from 13.4 ± 37.6 to 6.0 ± 10.6 ng/mL, p < 0.0001; from 2.2 ± 4.9 to 1.5 ± 6.3%, p < 0.005; and from 3.6 ± 3.7 to 2.0 ± 3.5 cut-off index, p < 0.0001; respectively). Adverse events were rare and not associated with age. No decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate was observed in patients with baseline chronic kidney disease stage 3.

CONCLUSIONS

LDV/SOF therapy is highly effective and safe in elderly Japanese patients with HCV GT1, even in the presence of cirrhosis or NS5A RASs. Patients with SVR may have a lower risk of HCC.

Prediction of the very early occurrence of HCC right after DAA therapy for HCV infection

BACKGROUND

Although direct-acting antiviral (DAA) developments make most of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection curable, some HCV patients develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment of HCV. There is much dispute whether the rapid clearance of the virus enhances the HCC development. In advance of the dispute, we should make clear the characteristics of the patients with very early occurrence and recurrence of HCC after DAA therapy because it was still unclear.

METHODS

We prospectively followed consecutive patients with HCV who had received sofosbuvir (SOF)-based treatment at two hospitals. The baseline characteristics, laboratory data, and liver imaging findings were acquired. We evaluated the rate of HCC occurrence and recurrence within 1-year after DAA therapy and analyzed the associated factors of very early HCC occurrence and recurrence right after SOF therapy.

RESULTS

Between July 2013 and October 2016, we studied two cohorts with HCV infection that received SOF therapy. 402 and 462 patients in Yamanashi Central Hospital and Chiba University Hospital were included in this analysis, respectively. The SVR12 rates of genotypes 1 and 2 were 98.9% (561/567) and 96.0% (285/297), respectively. 41 patients developed HCC within 1 year after SOF therapy. The cumulative HCC occurrence and recurrence rate after SOF therapy was 5.0%. The common associated factor of 1-year HCC occurrence and recurrence in all cohorts was the existence of imaging "dysplastic nodule".

CONCLUSIONS

SOF regimens for HCV also have very high rates of SVR 12 in the post-market distribution. The appearance of imaging "dysplastic nodule" was an associated factor of 1-year HCC occurrence and recurrence. To investigate existence of "dysplastic nodule" by imaging surveillance before DAA treatment is useful to detect high-risk patients of very early HCC occurrence and recurrence and it should be performed.