scholarly journals Neopterin as a Marker of Response to Antiviral Therapy in Hepatitis C Virus Patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory F. Oxenkrug ◽  
Pura J. Requintina ◽  
Dennis L. Mikolich ◽  
Robin Ruthazer ◽  
Kathleen Viveiros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Interferon Stimulated Genes ◽  
Viral Therapy ◽  
Rate Limiting

Predicting the efficacy of antiviral treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is of importance for both patient well-being and health care expense. The expression of interferon-stimulated genes (IFN-SGs) in the liver was suggested as a marker of response to anti-viral therapy. IFN-SGs encode the guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH), a rate-limiting enzyme of pteridines biosynthesis. Neopterin, a stable byproduct of GTPCH-catalyzed reaction, is used as a marker of interferon-induced GTPCH activation. We hypothesized that assessment of neopterin concentrations might predict the response to antiviral therapy. Neopterin concentrations were evaluated in 260 HCV patients treated by pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin. Mean and median pretreatment neopterin concentrations were lower in patients with sustained virological response than in nonresponders. The rate of response was twofold higher among patients with pretreatment neopterin levels <16 nmol/L than in patients with neopterin levels ≥16 nmol/L, even after controlling for HCV genotype status. Our study suggests that the pretreatment level of neopterin might be used in routine clinical practice as rapid and cost-effective marker to predict the response to antiviral therapy in HCV patients.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C Virus Clearance after Discontinuation of Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2a Monotherapy in a Child

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Takeshi Endo ◽  
Koichi Ito ◽  
Tokio Sugiura ◽  
Kenji Goto
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Interferon Alpha ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Hcv Rna ◽  
Pegylated Interferon Alpha ◽  
Present Patient

The present patient was a 4-year-old boy. His hepatitis C virus genotype was 2a, and his viral load was high (1400,000 U/mL). The pretreatment liver biopsy revealed no fibrosis or malignancy and mild chronic hepatitis; his Knodell's histological activity (HAI) score was 4. Single nucleotide polymorphism of IL28B (rs8099917) was major type. The patient began antiviral treatment with pegylated interferon alpha 2a (90 μg/week). At week 9, serum HCV RNA became undetectable, with a sensitivity of 50 copies/mL. Antiviral treatment was discontinued at week 11 because the ALT level increased to 610 U/L. After discontinuation of therapy, the patient’s serum HCV RNA status became positive again. The serum viral load increased to 100,000 U/mL. During this period, he had been observed without medication. Sixteen months after stopping treatment, serum HCV became undetectable. Over a 4-year period, HCV RNA became negative and his anti-HCV antibody titer gradually decreased. In conclusion, though antiviral therapy resulted in failure or incomplete therapy, a reduced viral load resulted in viral clearance in the present patient. Interleukin 28B genotype might have association with the clearance of hepatitis C virus after discontinuation of antiviral therapy.

A Laparoscopic Splenectomy Allows the Induction of Antiviral Therapy for Patients with Cirrhosis Associated with Hepatitis C Virus

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-179
Author(s):  
Yoshinobu Shigekawa ◽  
Kazuhisa Uchiyama ◽  
Katsunari Takifuji ◽  
Masaki Ueno ◽  
Takashi Hama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Laparoscopic Splenectomy ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Virologic Response ◽  
Median Hospital Stay ◽  
Postoperative Death ◽  
Median Hospital

It is difficult to treat patients with cirrhosis-associated hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin because of thrombocytopenia-related hypersplenism. Both safety and clinical efficacy were retrospectively analyzed for patients who underwent a laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) from January 2003 to December 2007. A total of 35 patients with cirrhosis associated with hepatitis C virus had LS for thrombocytopenia before PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy, and all patients had thrombocytopenia, which was a contraindication for antiviral therapy. The hepatopathy was Child A in 24 patients, Child B in 10 patients, and Child C in one patient. All 35 patients increased platelet count from 48,000 ± 15,000 to 155,000 ± 55,000/μl ( P < 0.0001) after LS. The median hospital stay and blood loss were 13.0 days (range, 8 to 57 days) and 342.0 mL (range, 5 to 2350 mL). There was no postoperative death. Twenty-nine (83%) patients had PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy after LS; 18 had complete therapy and 11 had partial therapy. Of these, nine had a sustained virologic response. A laparoscopic splenectomy for patients with cirrhosis associated with hepatitis C virus can be performed safely and allows induction of antiviral treatment.

Effects of Smoking on Pegylated Interferon alpha 2a and First Generation Protease Inhibitor-based Antiviral Therapy in Naïve Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Zimmermann ◽  
Dietrich Hueppe ◽  
Stefan Mauss ◽  
Peter Buggisch ◽  
Heike Pfeiffer-Vornkahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Interferon Alpha ◽  
Virological Response ◽  
Sustained Viral Response ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Genotype 1 ◽  
Pegylated Interferon Alpha ◽  
Viral Response

Background & Aims: Smoking has multiple effects on factors influencing hepatitis C and antiviral therapy, including lipid metabolism, fibrosis, platelet count and adherence aspects. The aim of this analysis was to determine the impact of smoking on hepatitis C virus antiviral therapy. Methods: Data of two cohorts of an observational multicenter study including therapy-naïve patients infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) treated with dual antiviral therapy (n=7,796) with pegylated interferon alpha 2a in combination with ribavirin, or triple antiviral therapy (n=1,122) containing telaprevir or boceprevir, were analysed. Results: In the univariate matched pair analysis of dual antiviral therapy patients (n=584), smoking was significantly associated with lower sustained viral response rates (p=0.026, OR 0.69 CI: 0.50 – 0.96). The effect of smoking on sustained viral response remained significant (p=0.028, OR 0.67 CI: 0.47 – 0.96) in the multivariate analysis when adjusting for all other baseline parameters with a significant association in the univariate analysis, i.e. diabetes, fibrosis, body mass index, transaminases and baseline viral load. Under protease inhibitors the influence of smoking on virological response did not arise. Conclusions: Smoking has a negative impact on antiviral therapy in naïve patients infected with HCV genotype 1 independently of age, gender, history of drug use or alcoholic liver disease. The effects of smoking might be overcome by the new antiviral agents.Abbreviations: APRI: AST to platelet ratio index; DAA: direct antiviral agent; DT: dual antiviral therapy; EoTR: end of treatment response; RVR: rapid virological response; EVR: early virological response; HCV: hepatitis C virus; IFN: interferon alpha; MPA: Matched Pair Analysis; NS: non-smokers; PEG-IFN: pegylated interferon alpha 2a; PI: protease inhibitor; RBV: ribavirin; SAE: serious adverse event; SOC: standard of care; S: smokers; SVR: sustained viral response.    

scholarly journals Pleuro-Pulmonary Nocardiosis as Opportunistic Infection in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis C under Combination Treatment with Pegylated Interferon, Ribavirin, and Boceprevir

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csilla Putz-Bankuti ◽  
Harald H. Kessler ◽  
Thomas Valentin ◽  
Eva Leitner ◽  
Emina Talakic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis C ◽  
Pulmonary Infection ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Aerobic Actinomycetes

Nocardiosis is an infrequent but serious pulmonary infection caused by Gram-positive aerobic actinomycetes. In this paper, we report on a 48-year-old patient with pleuropulmonary nocardiosis and cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with triple antiviral treatment complicated by prolonged neutropenia.

Changes in Serum Level of Autotaxin with Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Mohamed Hussein Abdelwahab ◽  
Shereen Abou Bakr Saleh ◽  
Ghada Abdelrahman Ahmed ◽  
Asmaa Mady Gomaa Mady
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Serum Level ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Direct Acting

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus virus is global health burden and major health hazard in Egypt, since the virus is the etiological factor of chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for approximately 15%-20% cases of acute hepatitis. After acute infection, around 50% to 80% of HCV patients will develop chronic infection. Approximately, HCV infects 170 million individuals worldwide). Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients are at high risk to develop lifethreatening complications, including cirrhosis in 20% of cases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Objectives The aim of this study was to validate Changes in serum level of autotaxin in patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after antiviral treatment. Patients and methods This study was designed as a prospective observational cohort study to evaluate Changes in serum levels of autotaxin with direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C before (baseline) and after (sustained virologic response week 12) treatment. This prospective study was conducted on 48 chronic HCV infected patients eligible for antiviral treatment with direct acting antivirals, agreeable to regular follow up, recruited from Hepatology and virology outpatient clinic at DMNI (Damanhour Medical National Institute) during the period from September 2018 till Mars 2019. Results This study showed that Autotaxin level significantly decreased from baseline to 12 weeks post-treatment. ATX therefore represents a novel non-invasive biomarker for liver fibrosis and a prognostic indicator of disease activity. Conclusion Serum Autotaxin was found to be higher in chronic hepatitis c and ATX levels became significantly decreased from baseline to 12 weeks post-treatment with direct acting antiviral drugs in patients achieving a SVR.

scholarly journals Antidepressant Prophylaxis Reduces Depression Risk but Does Not Improve Sustained Virological Response in Hepatitis C Patients Receiving Interferon Without Depression at Baseline: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 575-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awad Al-Omari ◽  
Juthaporn Cowan ◽  
Lucy Turner ◽  
Curtis Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Sustained Virological Response ◽  
Risk Ratio ◽  
Virological Response ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Well Being

BACKGROUND: Depression complicates interferon-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) antiviral therapy in 10% to 40% of cases, and diminishes patient well-being and ability to complete a full course of therapy. As a consequence, the likelihood of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR [ie, permanent viral eradication]) is reduced.OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence of whether preemptive antidepressant prophylaxis started before HCV antiviral initiation is beneficial.METHODS: Inclusion was restricted to randomized controlled trials in which prophylactic antidepressant therapy was started at least two weeks before the initiation of HCV antiviral treatment. Studies pertaining to patients with active or recent depressive symptoms before commencing HCV antiviral therapy were excluded. English language articles from 1946 to July 2012 were included. The MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central databases were searched. Where possible, meta-analyses were conducted evaluating the effect of antidepressant prophylaxis on SVR and major depression as well as on Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Index scores at four, 12 and 24 weeks. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess bias risk.RESULTS: Six randomized clinical trials involving 522 patients met the inclusion criteria. Although the frequency of on-treatment clinical depression was decreased with antidepressant prophylaxis (risk ratio 0.60 [95% CI 0.38 to 0.93]; P=0.02; I2=24%), no benefit to SVR was identified (risk ratio 1.08 [95% CI 0.74 to 1.57]; P=0.69; I2=58%).CONCLUSION: This practice is not justified to improve SVR in populations free of active depressive symptoms leading up to HCV antiviral therapy.

Inhibitory Effects of Amentoflavone and Orobol on Daclatasvir-Induced Resistance-Associated Variants of Hepatitis C Virus

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (04) ◽  
pp. 835-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Ping Lee ◽  
Keng-Li Lan ◽  
Shi-Xian Liao ◽  
Yi-Hsiang Huang ◽  
Ming-Chih Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Chinese Herbs ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Direct Acting

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is recognized as a major causative agent of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite rapid progress in the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAA) against HCV infection in recent years, cost-effective antiviral drugs with more affordable prices still need to be developed. In this study, we screened a library of natural compounds to identify natural HCV inhibitors. The library of the pure compounds extracted from Chinese herbs deposited in the chemical bank of National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine (NRICM), Taiwan was screened in the cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) system. We identified the flavone or flavan-based compounds amentoflavone, 7,4[Formula: see text]-dihydroxyflavanone, and orobol with the inhibition of viral entry, replication, and translation of the HCV life cycle. Amentoflavone and orobol also showed inhibitory effects on resistant-associated variants to the NS5A inhibitor daclatasvir. The results of this study have the potential to benefit patients who are intolerant to the adverse effect of pegylated interferon or who harbor resistant strains refractory to treatment by current direct-acting antiviral agents.

scholarly journals Clinical Recommendations for the Use of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Being Treated with Ribavirin

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 479-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morris Sherman ◽  
Lawrence Cohen ◽  
Mary Anne Cooper ◽  
Magdy Elkashab ◽  
Victor Feinman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Sustained Virological Response ◽  
Virological Response ◽  
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Pegylated Interferon Alpha ◽  
Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Combination Antiviral Therapy

Today, combination antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin (RBV) allows many patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) to achieve a sustained virological response, which is equivalent to cure. Data also support the clinical benefit of combination antiviral therapy in patients coinfected with HCV and HIV, and in patients who have received a liver transplant.Antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha and RBV is, however, associated with a high incidence and significant magnitude of anemia. This anemia may have several mechanisms, including bone marrow suppression and hemolysis. In addition, patients coinfected with HIV may have both pre-existing and RBV-associated anemia. Management of anemia in patients with HCV through RBV dose reduction or treatment discontinuation may compromise the effectiveness of treatment, because studies have demonstrated that treatment adherence or maintenance of antiviral therapy dose is an important predictor of sustained virological response.Anemia associated with combination antiviral therapy in patients with HCV is frequently associated with an inadequate or blunted endogenous erythropoietin response. Accumulating evidence now supports the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) to manage anemia in these patients, with the objective of maintaining the RBV dose, but clinical standards are lacking. The present article reviews the data relevant to the use of rHuEpo in this patient population and proposes a set of clinical practice standards to assist clinicians in selecting patients for rHuEpo and in implementing rHuEpo therapy effectively.

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