Ribavirin dosage in patients with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 who completed short therapy with peg-interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin

[Evaluation of tolerance and efficacy of the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis C in homozygous sickle cell patients]

La drépanocytose est une maladie génétique à transmission autosomale codominante. Les patients homozygotes ont des crises hémolytiques qui génèrent les symptômes cliniques. Il s'agit d'une maladie fréquente. En France, la plupart des cas hospitalisés sont observés en Ile de France et aux Antilles. Le pronostic des patients s'est beaucoup amélioré ces dernières années. L’âge médian au décès a doublé en 20 ans. Il est passé de 18 à 36 ans, témoignant d'une meilleure prise en charge des malades. De ce fait, les complications hépatiques de la maladie, et notamment celles liées à l'hépatite virale chronique C, sont de plus en plus fréquentes. La Ribavirine étant contre indiquée dans le traitement de l'hépatite C chez les malades atteints d'anémie hémolytique (talassémie, drépanocytose), il n'existe que très peu de cas publiés dans les littératures et aucun cas traité par trithérapie antivirale incluant un inhibiteur de protéase. Le but de ce travail était d’évaluer la tolérance, l'efficacité du traitement de l'hépatite virale chronique C chez des patients drépanocytaires homozygotes. Dans la cohorte de patients drépanocytaires homozygotes adultes de l'hôpital Tenon (n = 560), la prévalence de l'hépatite C chez les derepanocytaires était de 7% (n = 38) en 2012. Il s'agissait de 15 hommes et 23 femmes âgés de 20 à 59 ans. Vingt-cinq patients avaient reçu plus de 10 transfusions et 13 patients avaient reçu moins de 10 transfusions au cours des années précédant le bilan. La répartition des génotypes était: G1 (n = 7); G2 (n = 2); G3 (n = 1); G4 (n = 6); G inconnu (n = 22). Neuf patients ont été traités dont 8 par bithérapie (Peg/Rbv) et 1 par trithérapie (télaprevir). La posologie de ribavirine était supérieure ou égale à 800mg/jour chez 7 patients et inférieure à cette dose chez les deux autres patients. Le score METAVIR de fibrose était: F1 (n = 3), F2 (n = 4) et F 3 (n = 1);un patient n'a pas pu etre biopsié. Aucun patient n'a présenté de crise vaso-occlusive. Un seul patient a du être transfusé. Chez les 8 autres patients, la tolérance hématologique était excellente; le taux d'hémoglobine moyen était supérieur au taux moyen pré-thérapeutique après 1 et 3 mois de traitement. Une réponse virologique complète était observée chez tous les patients en fin de traitement et une réponse virale soutenue (SVR 24) était obtenue chez 6 patients. La cohorte des patients atteints de drépanocytose de l'Hôpital Tenon est une des plus importantes décrites dans la littérature. La prévalence de l'infection par le virus C est de 7% chez les patients homozygotes SS faisant des crises vaso occlusive. Cette série confirme que la prévalence dépend du nombre de transfusions (supérieures ou inférieures à 10 unités d’érythrocytes) avant le diagnostic. Il confirme également la bonne tolérance de la prise de ribavirine chez ces patients ayant une anémie hémolytique congénitale. Aucune crise vaso-occlusive n'a été observée. Le nombre de transfusion n'est pas augmenté. La bonne tolérance également observée chez le malade traité par trithérapie peut ouvrir la voie à l’évaluation des nouveaux antiviraux directs. Un suivi régulier conjoint par un hépatologue et un hématologue est impératif dans cette population fragile.

The ARRIBA concept: adequate resorption of ribavirin

BACKGROUND

Adequate ribavirin exposure is essential for optimal sustained virological response (SVR) rates in chronic HCV treatment. It has been proposed that the area under the concentration-time curve up to 4 h after intake of ribavirin (AUC0-4 h) of the first weight-based ribavirin dose should be ≥1.755 mg•h/l to guarantee the highest chance of SVR. Our ARRIBA concept comprises a test dose of ribavirin to select the optimal starting dose to achieve adequate exposure. This study aims to evaluate whether adequate exposure can be achieved after dose advice based on the AUC0-4 h of a single weight-based ribavirin test dose.

METHODS

(Formerly) HCV-infected subjects received a single weight-based ribavirin test dose (<75 kg: 400 mg; ≥75 kg: 600 mg) and the AUC0-4 h was calculated. If ribavirin AUC0-4 h was ≥1.755 mg•h/l, subjects received the same dose 4 weeks later; if the AUC0-4 h was <1.755 mg•h/l, an adjusted dose was administered. The ribavirin AUC0-4 h was recorded again. The primary outcome was the proportion of subjects with an AUC0-4 h ≥1.755 mg•h/l after the second dose.

RESULTS

A total of 26 subjects were included. The geometric mean (95% CI) ribavirin AUC0-4 h was 1.67 (1.44-1.92) mg•h/l with 9 subjects (35%) reaching the target AUC on day 1. Thus, on day 29, 17 subjects (65%) received an adjusted dose. The geometric mean (95% CI) AUC0-4 h increased to 1.90 (1.62-2.21) mg•h/l and then 16 subjects (62%) had an AUC0-4 h ≥1.755 mg•h/l, which is significantly higher than day 1 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our ARRIBA concept of a ribavirin test dose, with dose adjustment if necessary, leads to an increased proportion of patients with an AUC≥1.755 mg•h/l compared to traditional weight-based ribavirin dosing.

In routine clinical practice, few physicians use early viral kinetics to guide HCV dual therapy treatment decisions

BACKGROUND & AIMS

PROPHESYS is a large, multinational, non-interventional prospective cohort study of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peginterferon alfa/ribavirin. This subanalysis assesses rates of premature treatment discontinuation stratified by on-treatment virological response (VR).

METHODS

This PROPHESYS subanalysis is restricted to treatment-naive, hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (G)1/2/3 mono-infected patients who received peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD)/ribavirin with intended treatment duration of 48 (G1) or 24 weeks (G2/3). Early virological responses were classified into four mutually exclusive categories [rapid VR (RVR), complete early VR (cEVR), partial EVR (pEVR), no RVR/EVR], using standard criteria.

RESULTS

The likelihood for shortening treatment owing to good efficacy was highest among patients with an RVR and HCV RNA≤400 000 IU/ml (G1 10.0%; G2/3 5.8%) whereas for poor efficacy, it was highest in G1 non-RVR/EVR patients with HCV RNA>400 000 IU/ml (56.6%). Factors significantly associated with early treatment discontinuation as a result of good efficacy in G1 patients included RVR vs. no RVR/EVR and, at baseline, lower HCV RNA, lower FIB-4 score, HCV infection via injection drug use. For G2/3 patients, factors included lower baseline HCV RNA and G2 vs. G3 infection. Most patients started with the recommended peginterferon alfa-2a dose, but a high proportion received a higher-than-recommended ribavirin dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite international guidelines, few physicians used early viral kinetics to abbreviate treatment. Therefore, relatively few patients with an RVR and low baseline HCV RNA abbreviated treatment. In addition, there were deviations in ribavirin starting doses, suggesting that physicians tailor treatment according to local guidelines or previous experience.

Assessment of the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in the state of Mato Grosso, central Brazil

In Brazil, the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is funded by the national public health system (SUS). To evaluate treatment results in the state of Mato Grosso, central Brazil, we have consulted the files of the office of the State Department of Health responsible for supplying such medications. We obtained information on 232 treatments of 201 patients who underwent treatment in or prior to 2008. The study was conducted by reviewing medical records, making telephone calls and interviewing the assistant physicians. Thirty-nine patients (19.4%) had cirrhosis and HCV genotype 1 predominated (64.3%). Excluding patients with comorbidities or treatment without ribavirin we analysed 175 treatments (sustained virologic response occurred in 32.6% of cases). Twenty-six of these 175 were retreatments and the sustained virological response (SVR) rate among them was 30.8%; the SVR rate was 32.9% among those receiving treatment for the first time. The SVR rate of genotype 1 patients was 27.8%, whereas it was 37.5% in non-1 genotype patients. The adjusted multivariate analysis showed association of SVR with the absence of cirrhosis [odds ratio (OR): 7.7; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 2.5, 33.3], the use of pegylated interferon (OR: 5.8; CI 95%: 1.5, 21.4), non-1 genotype (OR: 5.3; CI 95%: 1.7, 16.7) and uninterrupted treatment (OR: 9.0; CI 95%: 3.3, 45.4). The SVR rates were similar to those found in other Brazilian studies about HCV, but lower than those found in national and international clinical trials. These data suggest that the treatments of chronic hepatitis C that are made available by SUS does not, under normal conditions, work as well as the original controlled studies indicated.

Refinement of stopping rules during treatment of hepatitis C genotype 1 infection with boceprevir and peginterferon/ribavirin

In comparison with peginterferon/ribavirin alone, boceprevir with peginterferon/ribavirin significantly improves sustained virological response (SVR) rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infections, but treatment failure remains a significant problem. Using phase 3 trial databases, we sought to develop stopping rules for patients destined to fail boceprevir-based combination therapy in order to minimize drug toxicity, resistance, and costs in the face of ultimate futility. Exploratory post hoc analyses using data from the Serine Protease Inhibitor Therapy 2 (SPRINT-2) study (treatment-naive patients) and the Retreatment With HCV Serine Protease Inhibitor Boceprevir and Pegintron/Rebetol 2 (RESPOND-2) study (treatment-experienced patients) were undertaken to determine whether protocol-specified stopping rules (detectable HCV RNA at week 24 for SPRINT-2 and at week 12 for RESPOND-2) could be refined and harmonized. In SPRINT-2, a week 12 rule with an HCV RNA cutoff of ≥ 100 IU/mL would have discontinued therapy in 65 of 195 failures (sensitivity = 33%) without sacrificing a single SVR among 475 successes (specificity = 100%). Viral variants emerged after week 12 in 36 of the 49 evaluable patients (73%) who would have discontinued at week 12 using a ≥ 100 IU/mL stopping rule. In RESPOND-2, five of six patients with week 12 HCV RNA levels between the lower limit of detection (9.3 IU/mL) and the lower limit of quantification (25 IU/mL) who continued therapy despite the protocol-stipulated futility rule achieved SVR; one additional patient with a week 12 HCV RNA level of 148 IU/mL also continued therapy, had undetectable HCV RNA at week 16, and attained SVR.

CONCLUSION

Although a stopping rule of detectable HCV RNA at week 12 would have forfeited some SVR cases, week 12 HCV RNA levels ≥ 100 IU/mL almost universally predicted a failure to achieve SVR in both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients. In boceprevir recipients, the combination of 2 stopping rules-an HCV RNA level ≥ 100 IU/mL at week 12 and detectable HCV RNA at week 24--maximized the early discontinuation of futile therapy and minimized premature treatment discontinuation.

Hyporesponsiveness to PegIFNα2B plus ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C-related advanced fibrosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The success of pegylated-interferon (PegIFN)/ribavirin (Rbv) therapy of chronic hepatitis C is compromised by liver fibrosis. Whether fibrosis equally affects the two PegIFNα-based therapies is unknown. To assess the response to the two PegIFN regimens in patients with different degree of liver fibrosis.

METHODS

A sub-analysis of the MIST study: 431 consecutive naïve patients randomly assigned, based on HCV genotype, to receive either (A) PegIFNα2a 180 μg/wk plus daily Rbv 800-1200 mg or (B) PegIFNα2b 1.5 μg/kg/week plus daily Rbv 800-1200 mg, were stratified according to Ishak staging (S) into mild (S0-S2) or moderate (S3, S4) fibrosis and cirrhosis (S5, S6).

RESULTS

In A the sustained virological response (SVR) rates were not significantly influenced by fibrosis stage (71% in S0-S2, 66% in S3, S4, 53% in S5, S6, p=0.12), compared to B where the SVR rates differed according to fibrosis stage (65%, 46%, and 38%, p=0.004, respectively). This was even more so in HCV-1/4 patients treated with PegIFNα2b where the SVR rates were twice as many in S0-S2 vs. S≥3 (44% vs. 22%, p=0.02), while in A the SVR rates were similar between the two fibrosis subgroups (S0-S2: 47% vs. S≥3: 48%, p=0.8). By logistic regression analysis genotype 1/4 and lack of rapid virological response were independent predictors of treatment failure in both treatment groups, while S≥3 fibrosis was associated to PegIFNα2b treatment failure, only (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.4-5.68, p=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver fibrosis was an independent moderator of treatment outcome in patients receiving PegIFNα2b, not in those receiving PegIFNα2a.

Treatment of non-genotype 1 hepatitis C virus patients

The HCV genotype will remain an important, independent pre-treatment predictor of virological response. While direct acting antivirals (DAA) will improve in the coming months the rates of virological response in patients with HCV-1, the development of DAAs effective against other HCV genotypes is at an earlier stage. Therefore, Peg-Interferon and Ribavirin will continue to be used in the near future as standard treatment in these patients. In this manuscript, we will discuss highly debated aspects related to non-1 HCV genotypes. First of all, the predictive role of IL28B genetic variation, secondarily specific aspects related to HCV-4. In the final part, we will highlight potential differences between HCV-2 and HCV-3. Indeed, despite the fact that HCV-2 and HCV-3 have been evaluated together in the majority of studies, HCV-3 patients achieve lower rates of virological response as compared to HCV-2. Whether a genotype individualized treatment may increase virologic response is the object of current investigations.

'Easy to treat' genotypes were not created equal: can rapid virological response (RVR) level the playing field?

Genotypes 2 and 3 (G2/G3) of hepatitis C virus have been lumped together as 'easy to treat'. As a result, guidelines recommend 24 weeks of peginterferon/ribavirin for both. However, a closer look at trials shows that these genotypes are not the same, with G2 infection proving more responsive to peginterferon. The data supporting this conclusion are presented along with possible explanations for the differences observed. Ultimately, decisions must be made about therapy. Rapid virological response (RVR) may be the best parameter predicting successful antiviral therapy. For patients with G2 infection who achieve an RVR, shortened courses of therapy are effective. In contrast, for G3 patients without an RVR, there may be benefit to extending therapy to 48 weeks; however, this requires confirmation in prospective studies. Using RVR to guide therapy may level the playing field between these 'easy to treat' genotypes.

Steatosis is an independent predictor of relapse following rapid virologic response in patients with HCV genotype 3

BACKGROUND & AIMS

It is recommended that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 infections receive 24 weeks of treatment. A rapid virologic response (RVR; at week 4) predicts a sustained virologic response (SVR), although not all patients with an RVR achieve an SVR. We explored the relationships among hepatic steatosis, level of HCV RNA, relapse, and RVR in a phase 3 randomized controlled trial of 932 patients infected with HCV genotype 2 (n = 427) or 3 (n = 505) who received 24 weeks of therapy with interferon-α.

METHODS

In patients with an RVR (HCV RNA <43 IU/mL), the presence of an SVR was modeled using multivariate logistic regression as a function of age, sex, weight, body mass index, insulin resistance, steatosis, and levels of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, alanine aminotransferase, liver fibrosis, and baseline HCV RNA.

RESULTS

RVR, SVR, and relapse rates among patients with HCV genotype 3 were 79.6%, 79.2%, and 15.6%, respectively; corresponding rates among patients with HCV genotype 2 were 86.7%, 84.3%, and 10.1%. An RVR had high predictive value for an SVR in patients with HCV genotypes 2 (88.9%) and 3 (88.1%). The strongest independent predictors of relapse in patients with genotype 3 and an RVR were steatosis (odds ratio 3.0; P = .003) and HCV RNA ≥400,000 IU/mL (odds ratio 2.5; P = .04). Relapse rates in patients with steatosis were 17.4% and 20.9% for low and high baseline levels of HCV RNA, respectively; corresponding rates in those without steatosis were 2.5% and 8.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Steatosis was associated with significantly higher rates of relapse, irrespective of viral load, in patients infected with HCV genotype 3 who had an RVR. Further studies are needed to determine if longer treatment durations are effective in patients with an RVR and these risk factors.

Role of interleukin-28B polymorphisms in the treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 2 infection in Asian patients

Genome-wide association studies have linked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin-28B gene to the hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) response to peginterferon/ribavirin treatment. We aimed to explore the impact on the treatment outcomes of Asian HCV-2 patients. We determined rs8105790, rs8099917, rs4803219, and rs10853728 to be candidate SNPs in 482 Asian HCV-2 patients treated with the standard of care. Because the first three SNPs were in very strong linkage disequilibrium with one another (r2 = 0.94-0.96), rs8099917 and rs10853728 were selected for an analysis of their influence on the achievement of rapid virological response [RVR; seronegativity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in treatment week 4] and sustained virological response (SVR; seronegativity for HCV RNA throughout 24 weeks of posttreatment follow-up). The rs10853728 genotype did not predict RVR or SVR in HCV-2 patients. However, patients with the rs8099917 TT genotype, in comparison with patients with GT/GG genotypes, had a significantly higher rate of achieving RVR (85.2% versus 72.0%, P = 0.017) but did have not a significantly higher rate of achieving SVR (89.4% versus 86.0%). Multivariate analysis revealed that a baseline HCV viral load <400,000 IU/mL was the strongest predictor of RVR [odds ratio (OR) = 4.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.31-7.87, P < 0.001], and this was followed by advanced liver fibrosis (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.15-0.53, P < 0.001), the carriage of the rs8099917 TT genotype (OR = 3.10, 95% CI = 1.34-7.21, P = 0.008), and the pretreatment level of aspartate aminotransferase (OR = 0.996, 95% CI = 0.99-1.00, P = 0.04). Nevertheless, the achievement of RVR was the single predictor of SVR with an OR of 19.37 (95% CI = 8.89-42.23, P < 0.001), whereas the rs8099917 genotypes played no role in achieving SVR with or without RVR.

CONCLUSION

The rs8099917 TT genotype is significantly independently predictive of RVR, which is the single best predictor of SVR, in Asian HCV-2 patients.

Individualized treatment with combination of Peg-interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients infected with HCV genotype 3

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The benefit of individualizing treatment for patients with genotype 3 HCV infection on the basis of viral clearance at week 4 (wk4-R) has not been firmly established.

METHODS

Four hundred and fourteen patients received Peg-interferon alpha-2b plus 1000-1200 mg of ribavirin daily according with body weight > or <75 kg. Patients were randomized to standard 24 weeks (Std24) or to a 12 or 36 weeks variable treatment duration (Var12/36). In the variable treatment arm, patients with or without wk4-R were allocated to either 12 or 36 weeks duration.

RESULTS

At treatment week 4, HCV RNA was undetectable in 262 patients (63.3%), 136 in the Std24, and 126 in the Var12/36 group (p=0.41). In patients with wk4-R, end-of-treatment (EOT) responses were 80.4% (CI 85.4-95.3) and 97.6% (CI 94.9-99.9) in the two arms, respectively (p=0.019). In patients without wk4-R, corresponding rates were 61.9% (50.6-73.2) and 75.3% (CI 65.9-84.6) (p=0.08). SVR was attained in 302 patients, 71.4% (CI 65.3-77.6) in the St24 group and 74.3% (CI 58.4-80.3) in the variable 12/36 arm. Among patients with wk4-R, SVR was 81.6% (CI 75.1-88.1) and 82.5% (75.9-89.1), respectively. In patients without wk4-R, SVR amounted to 52.1% (CI 40.4-63.7) and 61.7 (CI 51.1-72.3) in the two arms (p=0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

HCV genotype 3 patients with week4-R may be treated safely with 12 weeks of therapy, provided that sufficiently high doses of ribavirin are administered. For patients still viremic at treatment week 4, SVR rates were numerically higher after 36 weeks of treatment than after the currently recommended 24 weeks.

Individualisation of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C

The combination of pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin is currently the standard of care antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but optimal results require an individual approach. Key issues are to deliver doses that confer optimal antiviral efficacy against hepatitis C virus (HCV) for a time sufficient to minimise relapse. Viral monitoring during therapy guides the subsequent treatment course, particularly HCV RNA results at 4 weeks (rapid viral response [RVR]) and 12 weeks (complete early viral response [cEVR]). There is strong evidence that for most patients with genotypes 2 or 3 HCV infection, RVR allows truncation of treatment to 16 weeks, provided ribavirin dose is weight-based. However, those patients with cirrhosis, insulin resistance/diabetes or older than 50 years need 6-12 months treatment. For "difficult-to-treat" CHC (genotypes 1 and 4), RVR is infrequent (approximately 15% in European studies), but allows treatment to be truncated from 48 to 24 weeks. Without RVR, there is some evidence that longer treatment (72 weeks) improves sustained viral response (SVR). However, "induction dosing" first 12 weeks of PEG-IFN clearly does not improve SVR. To prevent dose reductions and complete therapy, it is critical to detect and treat depression and other disabling side-effects, including judicious use of growth factors for severe anemia or neutropenia and possibly, thrombocytopenia. Another potentially important aspect may be attempts to counter central obesity and insulin resistance, which confer suboptimal antiviral response with any HCV genotype. Treatment partnerships with specialist nurses, psychological therapists and other healthcare workers are also essential for optimal individual management of patients with CHC.