Treatment rate and factors related to interferon-based treatment initiation for chronic hepatitis C in South Korea

Objective. To evaluate the role of dynamics of WFA+-M2BP, a serum marker of liver fibrosis, in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Patients and methods. We examined 56 CHC patients who received antiviral therapy. The severity of liver fibrosis was assessed using indirect elastometry. There were 8 patients with F0 fibrosis, 17 patients with F1 fibrosis, 6 patients with F2 fibrosis, 12 patients with F3 fibrosis, and 13 patients with F4 fibrosis. The level of WFA+-M2BP was measured prior to treatment initiation, then 1 month after treatment initiation, and 3 months after treatment completion. Results. We found that both CHC patients and patients with HCV-induced liver cirrhosis demonstrated a decrease in the serum level of WFA+-M2BP in response to antiviral therapy. Mean levels of WFA+-M2BP in individuals with F3 and F4 fibrosis were significantly higher than those in patients with F0 fibrosis (p < 0.01). Conclusion. Higher grades of liver cirrhosis were associated with higher serum levels of WFA+-M2BP, while antiviral therapy led to a decrease in the concentration of this biomarker. The assessment of WFA+-M2BP dynamics will help to detect early stages of liver fibrosis and also to monitor it in patients receiving antiviral therapy. Key words: chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis caused by HCV, biomarker, WFA+-M2BP, liver fibrosis, antiviral therapy

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Estimation of direct medical cost related to the management of chronic hepatitis C and its complications in South Korea

Medicine ◽

10.1097/md.0000000000003896 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 95 (30) ◽

pp. e3896 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Do Young Kim ◽

Ki Tae Yoon ◽

Won Kim ◽

Jung Il Lee ◽

Sung Hwi Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

South Korea ◽

Direct Medical Cost ◽

Chronic Hepatitis C ◽

Medical Cost

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Factors predicting staging and treatment initiation for patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: insurance a key predictor

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdaa276 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Janet Lin ◽

Cammeo Mauntel-Medici ◽

Anjana Bairavi Maheswaran ◽

Sara Baghikar ◽

Oksana Pugach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Chronic Hepatitis C ◽

Treatment Initiation ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Hcv Infection ◽

Inpatient Setting ◽

Hepatitis C Infection ◽

Chronic Hcv

Abstract Background Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection affects over 2.4 million Americans and accounts for 18 000 deaths per year. Treatment initiation in this population continues to be low even after introduction of highly effective and shorter duration direct-acting antivirals. This study assesses factors that influence key milestones in the HCV care continuum. Methods Retrospective time-to-event analyses were performed to assess factors influencing liver fibrosis staging and treatment initiation among individuals confirmed with chronic HCV infection at University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System between 1 August 2015 and 24 October 2016 and followed through 28 January 2018. Cox regression models were utilized for multivariable analyses. Results Individuals tested at the liver clinic (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–3.46) and at the federally qualified health center (HR = 3.51; 95% CI: 2.19–5.64) had higher instantaneous probability of being staged compared with individuals tested at the emergency department (ED) or inpatient setting. And probability of treatment initiation increased with advancing liver fibrosis especially for Medicaid beneficiaries (HR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.35–1.99). Conclusions The study demonstrates a need for improving access for patients with early stages of the disease in order to reduce HCV-related morbidity and mortality, especially those tested at nontraditional care locations such as the ED or the inpatient setting.

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