Simeprevir-Based Triple Therapy with Reduced Doses of Pegylated Interferon α-2a Plus Ribavirin for Interferon Ineligible Patients with Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus

Background/Aims

The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of simeprevir-based triple therapy with reduced doses of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin for interferon (IFN) ineligible patients, such as elderly and/or cirrhotic patients, and to elucidate the factors contributing to a sustained virologic response (SVR).

Methods

One hundred IFN ineligible patients infected with genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV) were treated. Simeprevir (100 mg) was given orally together with reduced doses of PEG-IFN-α 2a (90 μg), and ribavirin (200 mg less than the recommended dose).

Results

The patients’ median age was 70 years, and 70 patients were cirrhotic. Three patients (3%) discontinued treatment due to adverse events. The SVR rate was 64%. Factors that significantly contributed to the SVR included the γ-glutamyl transferase and α-fetoprotein levels, interleukin-28B (IL28B) polymorphism status, and the level and reduction of HCV RNA at weeks 2 and 4. The multivariate analysis showed that the IL28B polymorphism status was the only independent factor that predicted the SVR, with a positive predictive value of 77%.

Conclusions

Simeprevir-based triple therapy with reduced doses of PEG-IFN and ribavirin was safe and effective for IFN ineligible patients infected with genotype 1b HCV. IL28B polymorphism status was a useful predictor of the SVR.

Low-Dose Pegylated Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin for Elderly and/or Cirrhotic Patients with Genotype 2 Hepatitis C Virus

Background/Aims

This study aimed to predict sustained viral response (SVR) to low-dose pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin of elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 hepatitis C virus (HCV) using viral response within 2 weeks.

Methods

Low-dose PEG-IFN-α-2b plus ribavirin was administered to 50 elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV for 24 weeks. The dynamics of HCV RNA and HCV core antigen levels within 2 weeks were measured.

Results

The patients’ median age was 66 years. There were 21 male and 29 female patients. The median baseline HCV RNA level was 5.7 log IU/mL. Rapid viral response was achieved in 17 patients (34%), SVR in 28 (56%), and two (4%) discontinued treatment. Univariate analysis of factors contributing to SVR showed significant differences for sex, baseline virus level, and response within 4 weeks. When 40 fmol/L was set as the cutoff value for the core antigen level at 1 week, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for predicting SVR were 93%, 75%, 84%, 88%, and 85%, respectively.

Conclusions

Low-dose PEG-IFN plus ribavirin was a safe and cost-effective treatment for elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV, and the viral response within 2 weeks was a useful predictor of SVR.

Management of HCV in cirrhosis-a rapidly evolving landscape

Despite the rapid progress in treatment, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a growing cause of liver-related mortality globally. Patients who have been infected for decades are now presenting with advanced liver disease with the complications of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early attempts at treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin were limited by toxicity, long treatment duration, and limited efficacy. This was especially relevant for patients with cirrhosis, where exposure to peginterferon-based therapy was relatively ineffective and led to high rates of toxicity. However, the recent development of multiple novel direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has revolutionized the treatment of HCV. The majority of patients can now be cured with short courses of extremely well-tolerated all-oral regimens. However, the real test of these regimens comes in patients with more advanced liver disease, both in terms of safety and efficacy. Patients with cirrhosis have the greatest need for therapy and have traditionally been the most difficult to cure. The new therapies are rapidly changing this paradigm. Accumulating data suggest that high cure rates are achievable in patients with compensated cirrhosis and may even be possible in patients with signs of liver failure. This review will focus on the treatment of HCV in patients with cirrhosis, with an emphasis on the challenges that remain and strategies to deal with this important population.

Prevalence of abnormal glycometabolism in treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C virus infection in a Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) may promote pancreatic β-cell apoptosis-like cell death through a caspase 3-dependent pathway, initiating the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, the risk factors for development of T2DM and other abnormal glycometabolic factors in HCV patients of the Chinese Han ethnicity have been poorly explored.

METHODS

A total of 947 patients Chinese Han patients with confirmed HCV infection were enrolled in a multicenter study in order to examine the genetic and physiological parameters associated with the onset of abnormal glycometabolic conditions, including T2DM and prediabetes.

RESULTS

HCV genotype 1b and host interleukin-28B CC genotype were most commonly observed. A total of 145 (15.3%) patients were diagnosed with T2DM and prediabetes. Elevated age, waist circumference, smoking duration, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were shown to increase risks for abnormal glycometabolism. Liver dysfunction was shown to have positive correlations with abnormal glycometabolism in HCV patients. Genome-wide association studies indicated that certain genetic encoding inosine triphosphatase polymorphs (rs6051702) were associated with elevated risks for abnormal glycometabolism. Coupled with previous research data, it is likely that abnormal glycometabolism may be a useful predictor of risk for poor response to antiviral therapies and treatment-induced complications, such as anemia, in treatment naïve patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal glycometabolism and other such complications of HCV and HCV treatment may share critical metabolic and genetic pathways, providing potentially novel targets for future antiviral therapies for treatment resistant HCV genotypes.

Interleukin-28B gene non-TT allele strongly predicts treatment failure for genotype 1 infected chronic hepatitis C patients with advanced fibrosis: a case control study

BACKGROUND

The role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin (IL)-28B in predicting therapeutic response of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) plus ribavirin (PR) for genotype 1 infected chronic hepatitis C patients with advanced fibrosis (AF) is limited. The aim of this study is to assess its role in predicting sustained virologic responses (SVR) to treatment.

METHODS

Forty-two patients with biopsy proven hepatitis C virus (HCV) related AF (group A; Ishak fibrosis score, ≥4) and 126 sex- and HCV genotype-matched patients without AF (group B; Ishak fibrosis score, ≤3) were recruited into study. All patients received PR therapy for 24 weeks. Baseline and on-treatment clinical, virological and host factors were evaluated for treatment efficacy.

RESULTS

The SVR rate was significantly lower in group A than group B patients with genotype 1 infection (24% vs. 53.3%; p=0.011). However, it was similar in those with genotype non-1 infection (76.5% vs. 76.5%; p=1.0). IL-28B rs8099917 genotype TT is the strongest predictor for SVR in genotype 1 infection. Patients who had TT genotype and achieved RVR in group A had similar SVR rates with those in group B (44.4% vs. 53.3%; p=0.614). One third of patients in group A developed hematological adverse effects and had required modified doses during antiviral therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

In HCV genotype 1 infected AF receiving 24 weeks of PR treatment, patients with IL28B rs8099917 genotype TT, achieving RVR had similar SVR rate with those without AF. In contrast, patients with IL-28B rs8099917 non-TT genotype without achieving RVR are suggested to stop therapy.

High sustained virological response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin for recurrent genotype 3 hepatitis C infection post-liver transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Treatment outcomes of recurrent HCV genotype 3 (GT-3) after liver transplantation (LT) are ill-defined.

AIMS

To determine efficacy, predictors, and long-term survival after treatment of recurrent HCV GT-3 infection, post-LT, with a combination of pegylated interferon (PEG) and ribavirin (RBV).

METHODS

We studied all LT recipients (LTR) in our program treated with PEG and RBV for recurrent HCV GT-3 between Jan 1st 2002 and Dec 31st 2013. Antiviral therapy (AVT) was started if histology showed recurrent HCV with ≥ stage 2 fibrosis. Treatment was intended for 24 or 36 weeks, depending on early virologic response, and/or 24 weeks consolidation. Primary endpoint was sustained virological response (SVR). We also studied predictors of SVR and long-term patient survival.

RESULTS

Among 492 LT for HCV-related cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma performed during the study period, 110 (22%) had HCV GT-3 infection. Fifty-two (10.5%) HCV GT-3 patients had indications for AVT. Six were unable to complete the AVT, three because of clinical decompensation and one each because of metastatic disease involving the brain, lung cancer, and ductopenic rejection. Forty-seven (90%) patients achieved early virological response (EVR) and 37 (71%) achieved SVR. Predictors of SVR were EVR (p < 0.001), stage ≤ 3 fibrosis (p = 0.008), and 36 weeks treatment duration (p < 0.001). Less advanced fibrosis ≤ 3 was independent predictor of SVR (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.67). SVR patients had actuarial (Kaplan-Meier) 1, 3, and 10 year post-treatment survival of 100, 100, and 95%, compared with 87, 78, and 20% for non-SVR patients (p < 0.001, log rank test).

CONCLUSION

Efficacy of AVT for recurrent HCV GT-3 post-LT is high, and comparable with that for non-transplant patients. Less advanced fibrosis is an independent predictor of SVR. SVR improves long-term survival.

Impaired expression of type I and type II interferon receptors in HCV-associated chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis

PURPOSE

Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-infected patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) respond poorly to interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy, but the reason for this is unclear. We previously reported that HCV-infection induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy response that selectively down regulates the type I IFN-α receptor-1 (IFNAR1) and RBV transporters (CNT1 and ENT1), leading to IFN-α/RBV resistance. The goal of this study is to verify whether an increase in ER stress and autophagy response is also associated with the reduced expression of IFNAR1 and RBV transporters in chronic HCV-infected patients.

METHODS

Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were infected with cell culture grown HCV particles (JFH-ΔV3-Rluc). HCV replication was confirmed by the detection of viral RNA by RT-qPCR and HCV-core protein by Western blotting. The ER stress and autophagy response and expression of IFN receptors and RBV transporters in HCV infected PHH and liver tissues derived from patients were measured by Western blotting.

RESULT

HCV infection of PHH showed impaired expression of IFNAR1, IFNγR1 (Type II IFN receptor) and RBV transporters but not IL10Rβ (Type III IFN-λ receptor). ER stress markers (BiP, IRE1α and peIF2α) and autophagy response (LC3II, Beclin 1 and ATG5) were induced in HCV infected chronic liver disease (CLD) and LC patients. Liver biopsies (CLD) show a 50% reduced expression of IFNAR1 and RBV transporters. Furthermore, the expression of IFNAR1 and RBV transporters was impaired in almost all LC patients.

CONCLUSION

HCV infection induces ER stress and autophagy response in infected PHH and chronically infected liver tissues. The expression of IFNAR1, IFNγR1 and RBV transporters were significantly impaired in CLD and cirrhotic livers. Our study provides a potential explanation for the reduced response rate of IFN-α and RBV combination therapy in HCV infected patients with liver cirrhosis.