scholarly journals The Beginning of Ending Hepatitis C Virus: A Summary of the 26th International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and Related Viruses

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 302
Author(s):  
Eui-Cheol Shin ◽  
Ji Won Han ◽  
Wonseok Kang ◽  
Takanobu Kato ◽  
Seong-Jun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
International Symposium ◽  
Virologic Response ◽  
Direct Acting Antivirals ◽  
Chronic Hcv Infection ◽  
Chronic Hcv ◽  
Direct Acting

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects ~71 million people worldwide, and 399,000 people die annually due to HCV-related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The use of direct-acting antivirals results in a sustained virologic response in >95% of patients with chronic HCV infection. However, several issues remain to be solved to eradicate HCV. At the 26th International Symposium on Hepatitis C Virus and Related Viruses (HCV2019) held in Seoul, South Korea, October 5–8, 2019, virologists, immunologists, and clinical scientists discussed these remaining issues and how we can achieve the elimination of HCV.

When Coadministration Cannot Be Avoided: Real World Experience of Direct Acting Antivirals for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients on First Generation Anticonvulsants

2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002097776
Author(s):  
Kayla M. Natali ◽  
Humberto R. Jimenez ◽  
Jihad Slim
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interaction ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Clinical Cure ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Virologic Response ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Direct Acting Antivirals ◽  
Chronic Hcv Infection ◽  
Chronic Hcv ◽  
Direct Acting

Background Coadministration of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and first generation anticonvulsants is currently not recommended due to a drug-drug interaction that could potentially lead to subtherapeutic DAA levels and subsequent treatment failure. Currently, there is limited data evaluating this interaction and timely treatment of HCV infection with DAAs is imperative to prevent liver-related morbidity and mortality. Methods A retrospective case series evaluating clinical cure of chronic HCV infection, defined as sustained virologic response (SVR) 12 weeks after completion of DAA therapy, in patients from three inner-city clinics who remained on first generation anticonvulsants during the treatment course. Results A total of five patients received standard dose DAAs for treatment of chronic HCV infection while being maintained on first generation anticonvulsants. The most common HCV genotype was 1a (80%), followed by 1b (20%). The majority of patients were treated with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (80%) for eight weeks and one patient was treated with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for 12 weeks. Anticonvulsant regimens consisted of carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenytoin plus phenobarbital, phenytoin plus levetiracetam, and phenobarbital plus lacosamide. All five patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) despite this drug-drug interaction. Conclusion Although every effort to prevent concomitant use of DAAs and potent inducers should be made, clinical cure may still be achieved in patients whom cannot avoid this coadministration.

scholarly journals Immunological Mechanisms for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk after Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Pil Soo Sung ◽  
Eui-Cheol Shin
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Direct Acting Antiviral ◽  
Chronic Hcv Infection ◽  
Chronic Hcv ◽  
Direct Acting

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) that allow for rapid clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) may evoke immunological changes. Some cases of rapid de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development or early recurrence of HCC after DAA treatment have been reported. During chronic HCV infection, natural killer (NK) cells exhibited a deviant functional phenotype with decreased production of antiviral cytokines and increased cytotoxicity; however, DAA treatment rapidly decreased their cytotoxic function. Effective DAA therapy also suppressed the intrahepatic activation of macrophages/monocytes. This was followed by a decrease in mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell cytotoxicity without normalization of cytokine production. Rapid changes in the phenotypes of NK and MAIT cells after DAA treatment may attenuate the cytotoxicity of these cells against cancer cells. Moreover, DAA treatment did not normalize the increased frequencies of regulatory T cells even after clearance of HCV infection. Thus, the persistently increased frequency of regulatory T cells may contribute to a local immunosuppressive milieu and hamper the clearance of cancer cells. This review will focus on recent studies describing the changes in innate and adaptive immune responses after DAA treatment in patients with chronic HCV infection in the context of de novo occurrence or recurrence of HCC.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: When the Host Loses Its Grip

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3057
Author(s):  
Kaku Goto ◽  
Armando Andres Roca Suarez ◽  
Florian Wrensch ◽  
Thomas F. Baumert ◽  
Joachim Lupberger
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Virologic Response ◽  
Direct Acting Antivirals ◽  
Advanced Liver Disease ◽  
Novel Treatments ◽  
Direct Acting

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Novel treatments with direct-acting antivirals achieve high rates of sustained virologic response; however, the HCC risk remains elevated in cured patients, especially those with advanced liver disease. Long-term HCV infection causes a persistent and accumulating damage of the liver due to a combination of direct and indirect pro-oncogenic mechanisms. This review describes the processes involved in virus-induced disease progression by viral proteins, derailed signaling, immunity, and persistent epigenetic deregulation, which may be instrumental to develop urgently needed prognostic biomarkers and as targets for novel chemopreventive therapies.

scholarly journals Direct-acting antivirals and hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence and recurrence in hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis: fact or finction

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Alberto Zanetto ◽  
Sarah Shalaby ◽  
Alberto Ferrarese ◽  
Chiara Becchetti ◽  
Salvatore Sciarrone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Direct Acting Antivirals ◽  
Direct Acting

scholarly journals Real-world efficacy and safety of pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kao-Chi Chang ◽  
Shui-Yi Tung ◽  
Kuo-Liang Wei ◽  
Chen-Heng Shen ◽  
Yung-Yu Hsieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Real World ◽  
Population Analysis ◽  
Virologic Response ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection ◽  
Direct Acting Antivirals ◽  
Evaluable Population ◽  
Direct Acting

AbstractClinical trials showed pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals’ (DAAs) excellent efficacy and safety when treating hepatitis C virus (HCV). Two pangenotypic regimens were examined, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL), in a real-world Taiwanese setting, including all HCV patients treated with GLE/PIB or SOF/VEL from August 2018 to April 2020. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment cessation (SVR12), including adverse events (AEs). A total of 1,356 HCV patients received pangenotypic DAA treatment during the study: 742 and 614 received GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL, respectively. The rates of SVR12 for GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL were 710/718 (98.9%) and 581/584 (99.5%), respectively, by per-protocol analysis, and 710/742 (95.7%) and 581/614 (94.6%), respectively, by evaluable population analysis. Eleven (GLE/PIB: 8, SOF/VEL: 3) did not achieve SVR12. The most common AEs for GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL were pruritus (17.4% vs. 2.9%), abdominal discomfort (5.8% vs. 4.4%), dizziness (4.2% vs. 2%), and malaise (3.1% vs. 2.9%). Laboratory abnormalities were uncommon; only < 1% exhibited elevated total bilirubin or aminotransferase levels with both regimens. Five drug discontinuations occurred due to AEs (bilirubin elevation: 3; dermatological issues: 2). Pangenotypic DAAs GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL are effective and well tolerated, achieving high SVR12 rates for patients with all HCV genotypes.

Enhanced immune responses, PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT signaling pathways following hepatitis C virus eradication by direct-acting antiviral therapy among Egyptian patients: a case control study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haidi Karam-Allah Ramadan ◽  
Gamal Badr ◽  
Nancy K Ramadan ◽  
Aml Sayed
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Liver Diseases ◽  
Stat Signaling ◽  
Chronic Hcv ◽  
Direct Acting

Abstract The use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in a high sustained virological response (SVR) and subsequently alters liver immunologic environment. However, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may occur after DAAs treatment. We aimed to clarify changes of immune responses, PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT signaling pathways in HCV-induced liver diseases and HCC following DAAs treatment. Four cohorts are classified as chronic HCV patients, HCV-related cirrhosis without HCC, HCV-related cirrhosis and HCC, and healthy control group. The patient groups were further divided into treated or untreated with DAAs with SVR12. Increased percentages of CD3, CD8 and CD4, decreased CD4/FoxP3/CD25, CD8/PD-1 and CD19/PDL-1 were found in DAAs-treated patients in the three HCV groups. Following DAAs therapy, the levels of ROS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly decreased in the three HCV groups. Treated HCV patients showed up regulation of p-AKT and p-STAT5 and down regulation of p-STAT3, HIF-1α and COX-2. In conclusion, DAAs enhance the immune response in chronic HCV and liver cirrhosis, hence our study is the first to show change in PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT signaling pathways in different HCV-induced liver diseases after DAAs. In chronic HCV, DAAs have better impact on the immune response while in liver cirrhosis not all immune changes were prominent.

scholarly journals Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk According to Regimens for Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus; Interferon or Direct Acting Antivirals

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3414
Author(s):  
Hye Won Lee ◽  
Dai Hoon Han ◽  
Hye Jung Shin ◽  
Jae Seung Lee ◽  
Seung Up Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Pegylated Interferon ◽  
Direct Acting Antivirals ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Similar Risk ◽  
Carcinoma Risk

By pegylated interferon (PegIFN)-free direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a sustained virological response (SVR) rate >95% can be attained with a satisfactory tolerability and shorter treatment duration. However, it remains controversial whether there is any difference in prognosis depending on regimens—PegIFN or DAAs. We compared the probabilities of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development between patients achieving an SVR by PegIFN/ribavirin (PegIFN group, n = 603) and DAAs (DAAs group, n = 479). The DAAs group was significantly older and had a higher proportion of cirrhosis than the PegIFN group. Before adjustment, the DAAs group had a higher HCC incidence than the PegIFN group (p < 0.001). However, by multivariate analyses, the DAAs (vs. PegIFN) group was not associated with HCC risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.968, 95% confidence interval 0.380–2.468; p = 0.946). Old age, male, higher body mass index, cirrhosis, and lower platelet count were associated with increased HCC risk (all p < 0.05). After propensity score matching (PSM), a similar HCC risk between the two groups was observed (p = 0.372). We also compared HCC incidences according to sofosbuvir (SOF)-based and SOF-free DAAs, showing a similar risk in both groups before adjustment (p = 0.478) and after PSM (p = 0.855). In conclusion, post-SVR HCC risks were comparable according to treatment regimens; PegIFN- vs. DAA-based regimens and SOF-based vs. SOF-free DAA regimens. Further studies with a longer follow-up period are required.

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