Kinetics of emergence of liver complications in hepatitis C virus infected patients and advanced fibrosis, with and without HIV-coinfection, after sustained virological response

OBJECTIVE

There is scarce available evidence on the distribution over time of liver complications emergence in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients who achieve sustained virological response (SVR) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based therapy. Therefore, we aimed at describing the kinetics of liver-related events appearance in this setting.

DESIGN

A multicentric prospective cohort study.

METHODS

HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients from GEHEP-011 cohort, whose inclusion criteria were had achieved SVR with DAA-based therapy; liver stiffness prior to starting treatment at least 9.5 kPa; and available liver stiffness measurement at SVR. SVR was considered as the baseline time-point.

RESULTS

One thousand and thirty-five patients were included, 664 (64%) coinfected with HIV. Before DAA-based therapy, 63 (6.1%) individuals showed decompensated cirrhosis. After SVR, 51 (4.9%) patients developed liver complications. Median (Q1-Q3) time to the emergence of hepatic events was hepatic encephalopathy 11 (7-24) months, ascites 14 (6-29) months, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 17 (11-42) months and portal hypertension gastrointestinal bleeding (PHGB) 28 (22-38) months (P = 0.152). We define two profiles of liver complications: those emerging earlier (encephalopathy and ascites) and, those occurring continuously during the follow-up (HCC, PHGB) [median (Q1-Q3) time to emergence 12.7 (6.6-28.2) months vs. 25.4 (12.5-41.53) months, respectively (P = 0.026)].

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of HCV-infected patients who develop liver complications after reaching SVR with DAA do it within 3 years after SVR time-point. Specifically, hepatic encephalopathy and ascites do not usually emerge after this period. Conversely, HCC and PHGB may occur in longer term. It is critical to identify patients at risk of developing hepatic events to continue performing surveillance for them.

Liver stiffness change with HCV cure in HIV-infected patients on non-nucleoside analogues

BACKGROUND

Liver stiffness (LS) at sustained viral response (SVR) is strongly associated with a lower incidence of subsequent hepatic events. HIV NNRTIs may have a beneficial impact on fibrogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to analyse the influence of NNRTI-based therapy on the change in LS from starting direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy to achieving SVR in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

METHODS

Three hundred and thirteen HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who fulfilled the following criteria were included: (i) had achieved SVR with an IFN-free, DAA-including regimen; (ii) LS ≥9.5 kPa before therapy; (iii) LS measurement available at SVR; (iv) seronegative for HBsAg; and (v) ART containing 2 NRTIs plus either 1 NNRTI or 1 integrase inhibitor (INI) or 1-2 NRTIs plus 1 PI. LS changes were assessed.

RESULTS

Seventy-four patients received NNRTI-based combinations [53 (71.6%) rilpivirine and 16 (21.6%) efavirenz] and 239 patients received other regimens. At baseline, the median (IQR) LS was 16.7 kPa (11.8-25.6) in the NNRTI group and 17.3 kPa (11.9-27.4) in the non-NNRTI group (P = 0.278). The median (IQR) percentage of LS decrease from baseline to SVR was 35.2% (18.2%-52.3%) for NNRTI-based therapy and 29.5% (10%-45.9%) for PI- or INI-based therapy (P = 0.018). In multivariate analysis, adjusted for sex, age, HCV genotype, NRTI backbone and propensity score for HIV therapy, NNRTI-based regimen use was associated with a higher LS decrease [β = 11.088 (95% CI = 1.67-20.51); P = 0.021].

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with NNRTI plus 2 NRTI combinations is associated with a higher LS decline than other ART combinations in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients receiving DAA-based therapy.

HIV infection is associated with lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virological response to direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C infected-patients with advanced fibrosis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of HIV infection on the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in HCV-infected patients who achieve sustained virological response (SVR) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA).

METHODS

Multisite prospective cohort study, where HCV-monoinfected patients and HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals were included if they met: 1) SVR with DAA-based combination; 2) Liver stiffness (LS) ≥9.5 kPa previous to treatment; 3) LS measurement at the SVR time-point. The main endpoint was the occurrence of HCC. Propensity score (PS) was calculated to address potential confounders due to unbalanced distribution of baseline characteristics of HIV/HCV-coinfected and HCV-monoinfected patients.

RESULTS

1035 HCV-infected patients were included, 667 (64%) coinfected with HIV. After a median (Q1-Q3) follow-up time of 43 (31-49) months, 19 (1.8%) patients developed HCC [11 (3.0%) HCV-monoinfected, 8(1.2%) HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals; p=0.013]. In the multivariable analysis, HIV co-infection was associated with a lower adjusted risk of developing HCC [sHR=0.27, 95% IC (0.08-0.90); p=0.034]. Predictors of HCC emergence were: HCV genotype 3 [sHR=7.9 (2.5-24.9); p<0.001], MELD score at SVR>10 [sHR=1.37 (1.01-1.86); p=0.043] and LS value at SVR [sHR=1.03 (1.01-1.06) for 1 kPa increase; p=0.011]. Using inverse probability weighting method on the PS, HIV-infected patients had a lower risk of HCC [powered HR=0.33 (0.11-0.85)].

CONCLUSIONS

Among HCV-infected patients with advanced fibrosis, who achieve SVR with DAA, HIV-coinfection seems to be associated with a lower risk of HCC occurrence. The underlying causes for this finding need to be investigated.

Liver Stiffness at the Time of Sustained Virological Response Predicts the Clinical Outcome in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus With Advanced Fibrosis Treated With Direct-acting Antivirals

Background

Some people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with sustained virological response (SVR) develop hepatic complications. Liver stiffness (LS) predicts clinical outcome in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with active HCV coinfection, but information after SVR is lacking. We aimed to analyze the predictive ability of LS at SVR for liver complications in people living with HIV/HCV with advanced fibrosis treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAA).

Methods

In sum, 640 people living with HIV/HCV fulfilling the following criteria were included: (i) Achieved SVR with DAA-including regimen; (ii) LS ≥ 9.5 kPa before therapy; and (iii) LS measurement available at SVR. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a liver complication—hepatic decompensation or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—or requiring liver transplant after SVR.

Results

During a median (Q1–Q3) follow-up of 31.6 (22.7–36.6) months, 19 (3%) patients reached the primary endpoint. In the multivariate analysis, variables (subhazard ratio [SHR] [95% confidence interval]) associated with developing clinical outcomes were: prior hepatic decompensations (3.42 [1.28–9.12]), pretreatment CPT class B or C (62.5 [3.08–1246.42]) and MELD scores (1.37 [1.03–1.82]), CPT class B or C at SVR (10.71 [1.32–87.01]), CD4 cell counts &lt;200/µL at SVR time-point (4.42 [1.49–13.15]), FIB-4 index at SVR (1.39 [1.13–1.70]), and LS at SVR (1.05 [1.02–1.08] for 1 kPa increase). None of the 374 patients with LS &lt;14kPa at SVR time-point developed a liver complication or required hepatic transplant.

Conclusions

LS at the time of SVR after DAA therapy predicts the clinical outcome of people living with HIV/HCV with advanced fibrosis. These results suggest that LS measurement may be helpful to select candidates to be withdrawn from surveillance programs.

High efficacy of resistance-guided retreatment of HCV patients failing NS5A inhibitors in the real world

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Most hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients failing NS5A inhibitors develop resistance-associated substitutions (RASs). Here we report the use of resistance-guided retreatment of patients who failed prior NS5A inhibitor-containing regimens in the GEHEP-004 cohort. This is the largest direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-resistance cohort study conducted in Spain. We aim to provide indications on how to use resistance information in settings where sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir may not be available.

METHODS

GEHEP-004 is a prospective multicenter cohort enrolling HCV-infected patients treated with interferon (IFN)-free DAA regimens. Prior to retreatment, population-based sequencing of HCV NS3, NS5A and NS5B genes was performed. After receiving a comprehensive resistance interpretation report, the retreatment regimen was chosen and the sustained virological response (SVR) at 12 weeks after treatment completion (SVR12) was recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 342 patients experiencing virological failure after treatment with sofosbuvir/ledipasvir±ribavirin (54%), sofosbuvir/daclatasvir±ribavirin (23%), or paritaprevir-ritonavir/ombitasvir±dasabuvir±ribavirin (20%) were studied. After a resistance report, 186 patients were retreated. An SVR12 was achieved for 88.1% of the patients who failed after sofosbuvir/ledipasvir±ribavirin, 83.3% of the patients who failed after sofosbuvir/daclatasvir±ribavirin, 93.7% of the patients who failed after paritaprevir-ritonavir+ombitasvir±dasabuvir±ribavirin.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, we show how resistance-guided retreatment in conjunction with an interpreted report allows patients to achieve SVR rates close to 90%. We hypothesize that SVR rates may even be improved if resistance data are discussed between experienced virologists and treating clinicians. We believe that our data may be relevant for countries where the access to new DAA combination regimens is limited.

LAY SUMMARY

Hepatitis C infection can be cured with currently available antiviral agents. Only a small proportion of patients experience treatment failure, however, in absolute numbers, a high number of patients may require retreatment. Highly effective combinations of antivirals are also available for retreatment. However, these antivirals might not be available in resource-limited settings. Herein, we show how, by analyzing the cause of resistance, retreatment efficacy with old drugs can get very close to the efficacy of new drug combinations.

HIV infection does not increase the risk of liver complications in hepatitis C virus-infected patient with advanced fibrosis, after sustained virological response with direct-acting antivirals

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of HIV coinfection on the risk of developing liver-related complications in HCV-infected patients with advanced fibrosis treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) after sustained virological response (SVR).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Multicenter.

SUBJECTS

Patients from the GEHEP and HEPAVIR cohorts were selected if they fulfilled the following criteria: treatment against HCV with all oral DAA combination; SVR achievement, defined as undetectable plasma HCV RNA 12 weeks after the end of therapy; pretreatment liver stiffness equal to or higher than 9.5 kPa; liver stiffness measurement at the time of SVR.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The primary variable was the time until the development of a liver complication or requiring liver transplant.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and seventeen patients were included and 507 (71%) were coinfected with HIV. After a median follow-up time of 21 (14-25) months, 15 (2.1%) patients developed a liver complication and/or underwent a liver transplant and 15 (2.0%) died. The probability of remaining free of hepatic complications or transplant at 1 and 2 was, respectively, 99 and 96% in HCV-monoinfected patients and 99 and 98% in coinfected patients (P = 0.648). In a multivariate analysis, in which nonliver-related death was considered as a competing event, HIV coinfection was not associated with the appearance of hepatic complications or requiring liver transplant [hazard ratio = 0.24; 95% CI (0.03-1.93), P = 0.181]. Having presented hepatic decompensation prior to SVR [hazard ratio = 29.06; 95% CI (3.91-216.16), P < 0.001] and the value of liver stiffness at the SVR time-point (hazard ratio = 1.12; 95% CI (1.07-1.18), P < 0.001] were associated with a higher probability of development of liver events.

CONCLUSION

HIV coinfection is not associated with a higher probability of developing liver complications in HCV-infected patients with advanced fibrosis, who achieved SVR with interferon-free regimens.