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Ferreira J, Bicho M, Serejo F. Effects of HCV Clearance with Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) on Liver Stiffness, Liver Fibrosis Stage and Metabolic/Cellular Parameters. Viruses 2024; 16:371. [PMID: 38543737 PMCID: PMC10974411 DOI: 10.3390/v16030371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a clinical and pathological syndrome with various causes and is characterized by varying degrees of hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation. It is a significant cause of liver transplantation and liver-related death worldwide. The hepatic manifestations of CHC are typically characterized by slowly progressing liver fibrosis, which is a non-specific and often disproportionate response to tissue damage. A large majority of HCV patients have extrahepatic manifestations with varying degrees of severity. HCV infection is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, which increases insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and iron overload and causes chronic systemic inflammation. HCV infection is treated using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) with cure rates of over 95 percent, minimal side effects, and shorter therapeutic courses. Despite the effective elimination of the virus, it seemed pertinent to understand to what extent HCV clearance eliminates or attenuates all the systemic alterations already induced by the virus during infection and chronicity. OBJECTIVES Our study aimed to determine whether eliminating HCV with DAAs alters the severity of liver disease (liver stiffness and liver fibrosis stage by TE) and the metabolic/cellular profile of patients with CHC. MATERIALS AND METHODS A group of 329 CHC patients from a Gastroenterology and Hepatology outpatient department were prospectively studied. Of these, 134 were also studied with DAAs. The liver fibrosis stage was evaluated by transient elastography (TE) using a FibroScan® device, and two groups were established for the analysis of liver stiffness (LS): mild and moderate stiffness (fibrosis F1 and F2; F1/2) and severe stiffness (fibrosis and cirrhosis F3 and F4; F3/4). Metabolic/cellular parameters were evaluated before and after antiviral treatment using standard methods: alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase (γ-GT), haptoglobin (Hp), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), free iron (Fe), transferrin saturation (TS), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin (Ft), glycemia, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and platelets count. The results were statistically analyzed using SPSS 24.0 for Windows. RESULTS Comparing the fibrosis stage before and after DAAs treatment, we verify a reduction in LS in 85.7% of patients and an improvement in liver fibrosis stage in 22.2% of them after DAAs treatment. Before DAAs treatment, patients showed a 2.410 risk for higher fibrosis stages (F3/4). Comparing metabolic/cellular parameters before and after DAAs treatment, patients showed lower ALP, AST, ALT, γGT, TG, Fe, TIBC, and Ft values and higher TC, LDL, and Hp values after treatment. As such, HCV elimination reduces iron overload and insulin resistance. On the other hand, it caused dyslipidemia, raising total cholesterol and LDL to levels outside the reference values. The improvement in the liver fibrosis stage by TE was mainly associated with higher baseline platelet count and HDL values and lower insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS With this study, we were able to contribute to the knowledge of the effects of HCV elimination with DAAs on liver disease and metabolic profile to improve the quality of treatment and follow-up of these patients after HCV elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ferreira
- Institute for Scientific Research Bento Rocha Cabral, 1250-047 Lisbon, Portugal;
- TERRA, ISAMB, Genetics Laboratory, Lisbon Medical School, University of Lisbon, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Manuel Bicho
- Institute for Scientific Research Bento Rocha Cabral, 1250-047 Lisbon, Portugal;
- TERRA, ISAMB, Genetics Laboratory, Lisbon Medical School, University of Lisbon, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Fátima Serejo
- TERRA, ISAMB, Genetics Laboratory, Lisbon Medical School, University of Lisbon, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
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Sharma R, Zhao W, Zafar Y, Murali AR, Brown KE. Serum hepcidin levels in chronic liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Chem Lab Med 2024; 62:373-384. [PMID: 37540837 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2023-0540] [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: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Dysregulation of hepcidin-iron axis is presumed to account for abnormal iron status in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Our aim is to determine the effect of specific etiologies of CLD and of cirrhosis on serum hepcidin levels. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Web of Science were searched for studies comparing serum hepcidin levels in patients with CLD to that in controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Guidelines. Statistical analysis was carried out with STATA using random effects model to calculate the mean difference (MD) between two groups. RESULTS Hepcidin levels were significantly lower in subjects with hepatitis C virus (16 studies) [MD -1.6 (95 % CI: -2.66 to -0.54), p<0.01] and alcoholic liver disease (3 studies) [MD -0.84 (95 % CI: -1.6 to -0.07), p=0.03] than controls. Serum hepcidin was significantly higher in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (12 studies) [MD 0.62 (95 % CI: 0.21 to 1.03), p<0.01], but did not differ in subjects with hepatitis B and controls (eight studies) [MD -0.65 (95 % CI: -1.47 to 0.16), p=0.12]. Hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis of any etiology (four studies) [MD -1.02 (CI: -1.59 to -0.45), p<0.01] vs. controls (CI: confidence interval). CONCLUSIONS Serum hepcidin levels are altered in common forms of CLD albeit not in a consistent direction. Additional study is needed to determine how changes in hepcidin levels are related to dysregulation of iron metabolism in CLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Weidan Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Yousaf Zafar
- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Arvind R Murali
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Orlando Health, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Kyle E Brown
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Program in Free Radical and Radiation Biology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Castiella A, José Sánchez-Iturri M, Urreta I, Torrente S, Alcorta A, Zapata E. Effect of viral eradication with direct-acting antiviral agents on iron parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis c and hyperferritinemia. CANADIAN LIVER JOURNAL 2023; 6:412-416. [PMID: 38152323 PMCID: PMC10751007 DOI: 10.3138/canlivj-2022-0042] [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: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Patients with chronic hepatitis C are at increased risk for hyperferritinemia (HF). Abnormalities of serum iron parameters are frequently observed in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). About a third of patients have increased iron parameters. Recently, studies on the effect of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in HCV eradication in patients with increased serum iron has been published, demonstrating the restoration of normal iron status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of viral eradication with DDAs in patients with CHC and HF. Methods Retrospective study conducted from January 2018 to December 2020 including patients treated with DAAs for HCV. Pre-treatment (PreT) and post-treatment (PostT) serum ferritin values were evaluated in all patients. Inclusion criteria: Pret HF (>400 μg/L); CHC patients treated with DAA achieving sustained viral response (SVR). Exclusion criteria: No PreT or PostT HF available; no SVR; lost patients. Results From 621 patients treated with DAAs for CHC, 77 presented HF (12.40%), and 74 were included in the study. Fifty nine were men (79.73%) with a mean age 58.33, SD 8.68; PreT mean ferritin: 893.20 (SD 1037.09); PostT: 264.17 (SD 161.33); PreT mean transferrin saturation: 40.96 (SD 15.71); PostT: 29.82 (SD 11.17); PreT mean serum iron 152.32 (SD 62.07), PostT: 109.32 (SD 39.49). When we compared PreT and PostT iron parameters, significant statistical differences were present considering ferritin (p = 0.0000), transferrin saturation (p = 0.0000), and iron (p = 0.0002) determinations. Conclusions SVR after DAAs for CHC induces a statistically significant reduction on iron parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Castiella
- Department of Gastroenterology, Donostia University Hospital, Donostia, Spain
| | | | - Iratxe Urreta
- Epidemiology Unit, Donostia University Hospital, Donostia, Spain
| | - Silvia Torrente
- Department of Gastroenterology, Donostia University Hospital, Donostia, Spain
| | - Ana Alcorta
- Department of Gastroenterology, Donostia University Hospital, Donostia, Spain
| | - Eva Zapata
- Department of Gastroenterology, Donostia University Hospital, Donostia, Spain
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Wróblewska A, Woziwodzka A, Rybicka M, Bielawski KP, Sikorska K. Polymorphisms Related to Iron Homeostasis Associate with Liver Disease in Chronic Hepatitis C. Viruses 2023; 15:1710. [PMID: 37632052 PMCID: PMC10457817 DOI: 10.3390/v15081710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of iron metabolism in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a significant risk factor for hepatic cirrhosis and cancer. We studied if known genetic variants related to iron homeostasis associate with liver disease progression in CHC. Retrospective analysis included 249 CHC patients qualified for antiviral therapy between 2004 and 2014. For all patients, nine SNPs within HFE, TFR2, HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC5, TMPRSS6, and CYBRD1 genes were genotyped. Expression of selected iron-related genes, was determined with qRT-PCR in 124 liver biopsies, and mRNA expression of co-inhibitory receptors (PD-1, Tim3, CTLA4) was measured in 79 liver samples. CYBRD1 rs884409, HDAC5 rs368328, TFR2 rs7385804, and TMPRSS6 rs855791 associated with histopathological changes in liver tissue at baseline. The combination of minor allele in HDAC3 rs976552 and CYBRD1 rs884409 linked with higher prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during follow up (OR 8.1 CI 2.2-29.2; p = 0.001). Minor allele in HDAC3 rs976552 associated with lower hepatic expression of CTLA4. Tested polymorphisms related to iron homeostasis associate with histopathological changes in the liver. The presence of both HDAC3 rs976552 G and CYBRD1 rs884409 G alleles correlates with HCC occurrence, especially in the group of patients with elevated AST (>129 IU/L). rs976552 in HDAC3 could impact immunological processes associated with carcinogenesis in CHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wróblewska
- Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland; (A.W.); (A.W.); (M.R.); (K.P.B.)
| | - Anna Woziwodzka
- Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland; (A.W.); (A.W.); (M.R.); (K.P.B.)
| | - Magda Rybicka
- Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland; (A.W.); (A.W.); (M.R.); (K.P.B.)
| | - Krzysztof P. Bielawski
- Laboratory of Photobiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, 80-307 Gdansk, Poland; (A.W.); (A.W.); (M.R.); (K.P.B.)
| | - Katarzyna Sikorska
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 81-519 Gdynia, Poland
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Monitoring of Iron, Lipid and Liver Profiles in Egyptian Hepatitis C Virus Patients on Sofosbuvir Therapy. J Infect Public Health 2022; 15:277-281. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2022.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Jayaswal ANA, Levick C, Collier J, Tunnicliffe EM, Kelly MD, Neubauer S, Barnes E, Pavlides M. Liver cT 1 decreases following direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2021; 46:1947-1957. [PMID: 33247768 PMCID: PMC8131342 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-020-02860-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Direct-acting antiviral therapies (DAAs) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) have excellent rates of viral eradication, but their effect on regression of liver fibrosis is unclear. The primary aim was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis, liver fat and liver iron content (LIC) in patients with chronic HCV following treatment with DAAs. METHODS In this prospective study, 15 patients with chronic HCV due to start treatment with DAAs and with transient elastography (TE) > 8 kPa were recruited consecutively. Patients underwent MRI and MRS at baseline (before treatment), and at 24 weeks and 48 weeks after the end of treatment (EoT) for the measurement of liver cT1 (fibroinflammation), liver fat and T2* (LIC). RESULTS All patients achieved a sustained virological response. Liver cT1 showed significant decreases from baseline to 24 weeks post EoT (876 vs 806 ms, p = 0.002, n = 15), baseline to 48 weeks post EoT (876 vs 788 ms, p = 0.0002, n = 13) and 24 weeks post EoT to 48 weeks post EoT (806 vs 788 ms, p = 0.016, n = 13). Between baseline and 48 weeks EoT significant reduction in liver fat (5.17% vs 2.65%, p = 0.027) and an increase in reported LIC (0.913 vs 0.950 mg/g, p = 0.021) was observed. CONCLUSION Liver cT1 decreases in patients with chronic HCV undergoing successful DAA treatment. The relatively fast reduction in cT1 suggests a reduction in inflammation rather than regression of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun N A Jayaswal
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christina Levick
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jane Collier
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Tunnicliffe
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Stefan Neubauer
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Eleanor Barnes
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael Pavlides
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.
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Grimm J, Peschel G, Müller M, Schacherer D, Wiest R, Weigand K, Buechler C. Rapid Decline of Serum Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 (PCSK9) in Non-Cirrhotic Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection Receiving Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy. J Clin Med 2021; 10:1621. [PMID: 33920491 PMCID: PMC8069657 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) efficiently eradicate the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels increase rapidly upon DAA treatment. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) induces degradation of the hepatic LDL receptor and thereby elevates serum LDL. The aim of this study was to determine serum PCSK9 concentrations during and after DAA therapy to identify associations with LDL levels. Serum PCSK9 was increased in 82 chronic HCV-infected patients compared to 55 patients not infected with HCV. Serum PCSK9 was low in HCV patients with liver cirrhosis, but patients with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis still exhibited higher serum PCSK9 than patients with non-viral liver cirrhosis. Serum PCSK9 correlated with measures of liver injury and inflammation in cirrhotic HCV patients. In patients without liver cirrhosis, a positive association of serum PCSK9 with viral load existed. Serum PCSK9 was not different between viral genotypes. Serum PCSK9 did not correlate with LDL levels in HCV patients irrespective of cirrhotic status. Serum PCSK9 was reduced, and LDL was increased at four weeks after DAA therapy start in non-cirrhotic HCV patients. Serum PCSK9 and LDL did not change upon DAA treatment in the cirrhotic group. The rapid decline of PCSK9 after the start of DAA therapy in conjunction with raised LDL levels in non-cirrhotic HCV patients shows that these changes are not functionally related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Grimm
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (J.G.); (G.P.); (M.M.); (D.S.); (K.W.)
| | - Georg Peschel
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (J.G.); (G.P.); (M.M.); (D.S.); (K.W.)
| | - Martina Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (J.G.); (G.P.); (M.M.); (D.S.); (K.W.)
| | - Doris Schacherer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (J.G.); (G.P.); (M.M.); (D.S.); (K.W.)
| | - Reiner Wiest
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Kilian Weigand
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (J.G.); (G.P.); (M.M.); (D.S.); (K.W.)
| | - Christa Buechler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; (J.G.); (G.P.); (M.M.); (D.S.); (K.W.)
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