Transfusion-transmitted infections in haemophilia patients

Efficacy and Safety of Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/ Ritonavir + Dasabuvir ± Ribavirin Combinations in Patients with Genotype 1 Hepatitis C and Inherited Bleeding Disorders

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C is one of the leading causes of death in patients with inherited bleeding disorders. Currently, direct-acting antiviral drugs used for the treatment of hepatitis C have become an effective and a reliable option for people with inherited bleeding disorders. The aim of this study is to report the efficacy and safety of ombitasvir + paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir combination in the treatment of hepatitis C in patients with inherited bleeding disorders.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of ombitasvir + paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir in 10 adult patients with hemophilia A, 4 patients with hemophilia B, and 1 patient with von Willebrand disease who were infected with hepatitis C genotype 1.

RESULTS

Five patients had genotype 1a and 10 patients had genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C. One patient had Child A cirrhosis, 14 patients had chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis. Hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid was negative in all patients at week 4 and at the end of the treatment. Sustained virologic response was obtained in all patients. Serious side effects were detected in 3 patients, which were intra- muscular bleeding, erosive gastritis-related gastrointestinal bleeding, and pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

Ombitasvir + paritaprevir combined with ritonavir and dasabuvir ± ribavirin is an effective treatment for patients infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C who have coagulation disorders. Tolerance and side effects are similar to other treatment options.

Exploring the Complex Role of Coagulation Factor VIII in Chronic Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Coagulopathy is often a sequela of chronic liver disease, however, the role and regulation of coagulation components in chronic liver injury remain poorly understood. Clinical and experimental evidence indicate that misexpression of the procoagulant factor VIII (FVIII) is associated with chronic liver disease. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of FVIII-induced chronic liver injury progression remains unknown. This review provides evidence supporting a pathologic role for FVIII in the development of chronic liver disease using both experimental and clinical models.

Hepatitis C infection in patients with hereditary bleeding disorders: epidemiology, natural history, and management

Hereditary bleeding disorders include a group of diseases with abnormalities of coagulation. Prior to 1990, infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) was mainly transmitted via pooled plasma products as a treatment for hereditary bleeding disorders. Anti-HCV positivity in these patients may be as high as >70% in some areas, while some of them have also been coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus. Since about 20% of HCV-infected patients clear the infection naturally, chronic HCV infection represents a significant health problem in this group of patients. Mortality due to chronic HCV infection is estimated to be >10 times higher in patients with hemophilia than in the general population, and is mainly due to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The antiviral treatment of HCV in patients with hereditary bleeding disorders is not different from that of any other infected patients. Nevertheless, many patients with hereditary bleeding disorders have declined (Peg)interferon-based treatment because of side effects. In recent years, multiple orally administrated direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been approved for HCV treatment. Unfortunately, there is not much experience from treating these patients with DAA regimens, as major studies and real-life data did not include adequate numbers of patients with inherited hemorrhagic disorders. However, the available data indicate that DAAs have an excellent safety profile with a sustained virological response rate of >90%.

Co-Infection of the Hepatitis C Virus With Other Blood-Borne and Hepatotropic Viruses Among Hemophilia Patients in Poland

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of HCV infection in people with hemophilia is substantially higher than that in the general population (63% - 98%). Multiple transfusions and substitutive therapy have also been linked to a high risk of HBV and HIV transmission. However, the prevalence of other blood-borne viral infections in this population is less well known.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of co-infection with HBV and other blood-borne viruses in Polish HCV-infected hemophiliacs.

METHODS

Seventy-one individuals, the majority of whom were male (94.36%), who had congenital bleeding disorders (60 had hemophilia A, five had hemophilia B, and six had other factor deficiencies) and HCV infection, which was defined as the presence of positive anti-HCV antibodies, were included in this study. The study group was divided into two subgroups according to the year in which blood donors were first tested for HBsAg in Poland. The serological markers were screened using commercially available enzyme immunoassays according to the manufacturer's instructions. The molecular tests were performed using real-time PCR technology with commercial assays according to the manufacturer's instructions.

RESULTS

The spontaneous elimination rate of HCV RNA was 29.6%. The HCV genotype 1 was detected in 28 patients (65.1%), genotype 2 in one patient (2.3%), genotype 3 in 11 patients (25.6%), genotype 4 in two patients (4.7%), and a mixed infection with genotypes 1 and 4 was detected in one person (2.3%). Fifty-three patients (74.6%) were anti-HBc positive. Among the seven HBsAg(+) patients, three individuals were HBV-DNA positive. No occult hepatitis B was detected. In six HBsAg positive patients, the HCV RNA was positive, while one patient was also infected with HIV. The prevalence rate of past infection with HAV in the study group was 30.9%, with a tendency for a higher prevalence in older patients. The prevalence of CMV and EBV infection was high and similar to that seen in the general population. All the patients were HGV and HTLV-1 negative.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostics and management of infections with hepatotropic viruses, particularly HBV, are neglected in hemophilic patients. All patients with coagulation disorders and a history of exposure to non-inactivated blood products should be screened for blood-borne infections. The prevalence of other potentially blood-borne viral infections exhibited a pattern similar to that observed in the general population.

Anti-inflammatory/regulatory cytokine microenvironment mediated by IL-4 and IL-10 coordinates the immune response in hemophilia A patients infected chronically with hepatitis C virus

In the past decades patients with hemophilia were infected commonly by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and a significant number of patients are infected chronically. Focusing on the role of the immune system for controlling and or maintaining HCV infection, the leukocyte and cytokine profiles of peripheral blood from hemophilia A patients and other patients with and without HCV infection were studied. The results demonstrated that hemophilia A is characterized by a general state of circulating leukocytes activation along with an overall increase in the frequency of IL-6 and IL-10 with decrease of IL-8 and IL-12. HCV infection of patients with hemophilia A does not influence further the activation state of circulating leukocytes but is accompanied by lower levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and a prominent anti-inflammatory/regulatory serum cytokine pattern, mediated by IL-4 and IL-10. Additionally, the results demonstrated that hemophilia A patients infected with HCV displaying No/Low antibody response to C33c and C22 have significant lower viral load and higher serum levels of IL-12 and IL-4. This finding suggests that the differential RIBA reactivity to C33c/C22 HCV core proteins may have a putative value as a prognostic biomarker for the infection in hemophilia A patients.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV viruses in hemophiliacs born 1985-2010 in west Azarbaijan of Iran

Background:

Although, in the past the risk of transfusion transmitted viral infections were high in hemophilia patients, but introduction of viral inactivation methods in1985,decreased the risk of human immunodeficiency and hepatitis C and B viruses transmission significantly. The aim of study was seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag), hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab) and human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIVAb) in hemophiliacs in west Azarbaijan of Iran, born in 1985-2010.

Materials and Methods:

In a cross-sectional study, fifty patients with hereditary bleeding disorders born in 1985-2010, from total 250 patients who had been registered in Urmia Hemophilia Society were enrolled through the year 2010 to assess their seroprevalence for HCV Ab, HIV Ab and HBs Ag. Thirty five of 50 patients had hemophilia. Also; we performed a subset analysis for hemophilia patients.

Results:

All 50 patients with hereditary bleeding disorders including 35 patients with hemophilia were seronegative for HIV Ab and HBs Ag. HCV-Ab was detected in serum of 3 of 50 (6%) patients with bleeding disorders. After subset analysis for hemophilia (A and B) patients, we found HCV infection in 8.57% (3 of 35) of hemophiliacs.

Conclusion:

In this study prevalence of HCV infection was very smaller than similar studies in Iran and other countries. This study shows the safety of using viral inactivated factor concentrates and recombinant factors after year 1985. None of Hemophiliacs were seropositive for HIV Ab and HBs Ag.

Lack of Knowledge About Hepatitis C Infection Rates Among Patients With Inherited Coagulation Disorders in Countries Under the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office of WHO (EMRO): A Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem. HCV alone is responsible for 90% cases of acute hepatitis among multiply transfused patients who are at risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

OBJECTIVES

To provide a clear picture of available data, we performed a systematic review of the epidemiological characteristics of HCV infection among patients with inherited coagulation disorders in the countries under the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO).

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Meta-analysis was carried out on the basis of results of electronic and manual search. This analysis included studies in English, French, and Persian that met with the following criteria: (1) appropriate study design: cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort; (2) studies reporting HCV prevalence according to enzyme immune assay; (3) studies in which the sample population was enrolled from EMRO countries. According to the results of the heterogeneity tests, we used fixed-effect/random-effect model for our meta-analysis, with the "Metan" command.

RESULTS

We included 30 studies, most of which were from Iran. The mean age of the subjects ranged from 13 to 27.1 years. The majority of the patients were male (range, 81% to 100%). The pooled estimate of HCV infection among patients with inherited coagulation disorders was 48.07% (95% confidence interval [CI], range: 27.39-55.68) in Iran, 36.03% (95% CI, range: 4.466-67.598) in Pakistan, and 48.27% (95% CI, range: 36.12-60.43) in all the EMRO countries taken together.

CONCLUSIONS

In Iran and other EMRO countries, the HCV infection rate among patients with inherited coagulation disorders is high. Our study shows that there is a lack of knowledge about infections in such patients in most of the EMRO countries. It is the responsibility of health-policy makers to address this knowledge gap and provide safe and adequate treatment for patients in high-risk groups.

Lack of Knowledge About Hepatitis C Infection Rates Among Patients With Inherited Coagulation Disorders in Countries Under the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office of WHO (EMRO): A Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem. HCV alone is responsible for 90% cases of acute hepatitis among multiply transfused patients who are at risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

OBJECTIVES

To provide a clear picture of available data, we performed a systematic review of the epidemiological characteristics of HCV infection among patients with inherited coagulation disorders in the countries under the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO).

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Meta-analysis was carried out on the basis of results of electronic and manual search. This analysis included studies in English, French, and Persian that met with the following criteria: (1) appropriate study design: cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort; (2) studies reporting HCV prevalence according to enzyme immune assay; (3) studies in which the sample population was enrolled from EMRO countries. According to the results of the heterogeneity tests, we used fixed-effect/random-effect model for our meta-analysis, with the "Metan" command.

RESULTS

We included 30 studies, most of which were from Iran. The mean age of the subjects ranged from 13 to 27.1 years. The majority of the patients were male (range, 81% to 100%). The pooled estimate of HCV infection among patients with inherited coagulation disorders was 48.07% (95% confidence interval [CI], range: 27.39-55.68) in Iran, 36.03% (95% CI, range: 4.466-67.598) in Pakistan, and 48.27% (95% CI, range: 36.12-60.43) in all the EMRO countries taken together.

CONCLUSIONS

In Iran and other EMRO countries, the HCV infection rate among patients with inherited coagulation disorders is high. Our study shows that there is a lack of knowledge about infections in such patients in most of the EMRO countries. It is the responsibility of health-policy makers to address this knowledge gap and provide safe and adequate treatment for patients in high-risk groups.

Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with hemophilia in Isfahan, Iran

OBJECTIVES

Patients with hereditary bleeding disorders are at risk of viral infection such as hepatitis C due to frequent transfusion of blood and blood products. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C and associated risk factors in hemophilic patients in Isfahan, the second big province in Iran.

METHODS

In a descriptive study, patients with hemophilia in Isfahan province were enrolled. A questionnaire, including demographic and risk factors of hepatitis C was completed through a structured interview with closed questions by a trained interviewer for each patient and HCV-Ab test results were extracted from patient records.

RESULTS

In this study, 232 of 350 patients with hemophilia A and B (66%) were positive for hepatitis C. Based on Multivariate Logistic Regression model, no independent risk factor was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of hepatitis C in patients with haemophilia A and B in Isfahan is high. Since no independent risk factor for hepatitis C disease was found in this high risk group, it can be concluded that multitransfusion is the only predictor for hepatitis C.