Insulin Resistance Predicts Virological Response to Interferon-α in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

The impact of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir treatment on serum hyperglycemia in hepatitis C virus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The combination of Sofosbuvir (SOF), velpatasvir (VEL), and voxilaprevir (VOX) is an effective, safe rescue therapy for patients with previous treatment failure. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in diabetics with a history of hypoglycemia could improve insulin resistance due to HCV clearance. However, some studies have shown that SOF/VEL/VOX causes grade 3 hyperglycemia and other adverse events, which contradicts the findings of other DAA studies.

AIM

To analyze the incidence of grade 3 hyperglycemia of SOF/VEL/VOX for chronic HCV infection.

METHODS

We searched electronic databases from the inception of each database until October 2021. A random-effects model was employed to pool data. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, and quality assessment was performed by using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The study protocol was registered on the INPLASY database (Registration No. 2021120109).

RESULTS

Five RCTs were included in this review. Overall, 49 of 2315 patients had grade 3 hyperglycemia with a risk ratio of 0.015 (95% confidence interval, 0.010-0.020; p < .001), and the incidence risk ratio (IRR) for cirrhosis compared to without cirrhosis was 12.000 (95% confidence interval: 0.727-198.160), the HCV genotype 3-genotype 1 IRR was 4.13 (95% confidence interval: 1.52-11.22) in subgroup analysis. No significant differences were found within the other subgroups, in prior DAA treatment experience, and in treatment duration.

CONCLUSION

Although the incidence of hyperglycemia was rare in diabetic patients with HCV, it is recommended that glucose levels be closely monitored during the first 3 months of therapy and that diabetes medication be modified if necessary.

Suppression of Interferon-α Treatment Response by Host Negative Factors in Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection remains a major global public health issue for which there is still lacking effective curative treatment. Interferon-α (IFN-α) and its pegylated form have been approved as an anti-HBV drug with the advantage of antiviral activity and host immunity against HBV infection enhancement, however, IFN-α treatment failure in CHB patients is a challenging obstacle with 70% of CHB patients respond poorly to exogenous IFN-α treatment. The IFN-α treatment response is negatively regulated by both viral and host factors, and the role of viral factors has been extensively illustrated, while much less attention has been paid to host negative factors. Here, we summarized evidence of host negative regulators and parameters involved in IFN-α therapy failure, review the mechanisms responsible for these effects, and discuss the possible improvement of IFN-based therapy and the rationale of combining the inhibitors of negative regulators in achieving an HBV cure.