Safe perioperative management of major hepatectomy in a patient with portal hypertension after elimination of hepatitis C: a case report

Background The administration of direct-acting antiviral agents in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C has been shown to improve liver function and long-term prognosis after sustained virological response (SVR) is achieved. However, in patients with portal hypertension (PH) at the time of SVR, PH may persist despite improvement in liver function. Case presentation An 82-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C was treated with direct-acting antiviral agents and achieved SVR. During follow-up, computed tomography revealed a low-density tumor in the left lateral region of the liver with dilation of the left intrahepatic bile duct. Considering the patient’s advanced age and PH persistence with a mild decrease in liver reserve function after SVR, preoperative percutaneous transhepatic portal embolization (PTPE) and partial splenic embolization (PSE) were performed concomitantly. Laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy was performed 8 days after the PTPE and PSE. The patient was discharged 8 days after surgery without any postoperative complications. Conclusions Laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy after preoperative management of PH was performed safely in a patient after the elimination of hepatitis C.

Acute reversible rhabdomyolysis during direct-acting antiviral hepatitis C virus treatment: a case report

Introduction Treatment of hepatitis C infection has evolved dramatically since 2011. Previous conventional therapy with interferon and ribavirin used to have a low sustained virological response rate of less than 40%. In the new direct-acting antiviral therapy era, a sustained virological response can be achieved in more than 90% of cases. Case presentation We report a rare case of severe reversible acute rhabdomyolysis in a 31-year-old Saudi male patient with very long-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency and chronic hepatitis C infection. The patient was clinically asymptomatic with no signs of decompensated liver disease. The patient received new direct-acting antiviral agents: sofosbuvir and daclatasvir. Fourteen days after initiation of direct-acting antiviral agents, the patient was found to have asymptomatic rhabdomyolysis. His creatine kinase peaked at 2572 IU/l, and he was treated conservatively; the direct-acting antiviral agents were discontinued and within 7 days, the patient’s creatine kinase levels normalized. Conclusion This case highlights possible direct-acting antiviral agent-induced rhabdomyolysis in a patient with very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, presumably through alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential. Further studies are required to assess the possible impact and associations.

Angiopoietin-2 as a predictor of fibrosis regression in chronic hepatitis C virus patients after direct-acting antiviral drugs

Background HCV infection is a major health concern. Disease progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC is aided by the persistence of inflammatory reactions and cellular damage. Moreover, angiogenesis was found to have a substantial pathogenic role in disease progression. Serum Angiopoietin-2 appears to be correlated with liver stiffness in chronic HCV and its elevation is linked to disease progression from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of serum Angiopoietin-2 in the prediction of regression of fibrosis in chronic HCV patients receiving direct-acting antiviral agents. Forty Egyptian chronic HCV patients for whom direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) therapy was planned were included. All patients underwent assessment twice, at baseline and at SVR12, for standard laboratory tests, measurement of fibrosis using FibroScan, FIB-4 and APRI scores, and Angiopoietin-2 level. Results Statistically significantly higher levels of baseline Ang-2 were detected with the progression of fibrosis stages with a p-value of <0.001. The best cutoff value of baseline Ang-2 in discrimination of liver cirrhosis (F4) from F0-F3 was > 630 pg/ml with 85.71% sensitivity and 84.85% specificity. A statistically significant decline of Ang-2 (from 464.3±237.2 pg/ml to 401.3±277.1 pg/ml) was noted after the achievement of SVR12 with a p-value < 0.001. Regression of liver fibrosis in this study is defined as a decrease of more than or equal to one stage in liver fibrosis. Lower baseline fibrosis stages and other non-invasive scoring systems (FIB-4 and APRI scores) were associated with regression of fibrosis following successful DAAs treatment. However, higher baseline Ang-2 levels were significantly associated with non-regression of fibrosis, and at a cutoff of >680 pg/ml, it might predict non-regression of fibrosis after successful eradication of HCV with DAAs with 93.33% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Conclusions Angiopoietin-2 can be a useful predictor of fibrosis regression in chronic HCV patients receiving direct-acting antiviral agents. Elevated baseline Angiopoietin-2 and advanced fibrosis stages may predict non-regression of liver fibrosis.

Elimination of hepatitis C virus in patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation

To study the changes in liver function and portal hypertension, and clinical outcomes after elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by direct-acting antiviral agents in patients awaiting an orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Safety & Efficacy of Directly Acting Antivirals (Sofosbuvir & Daclatasvir) in Treatment of Chronic HCV in HIV-HCV Co-Infected Egyptian Patients

Background The introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents, has revolutionized the treatment for chronic HCV with higher cure rates, shorter duration of treatment and more tolerability have been achieved. Objectives The aim of our study is to estimate the efficacy and safety of DAAs in treatment of chronic HCV in patients co-infected with HIV. Patients and Methods This study of previously untreated patients with HCV and HIV co- infection conducted at Abbasia Fever Hospital, from July 2019 to February 2020. Patients included those who are chronic HCV infection and receiving antiretroviral therapy with a CD4 T-lymphocyte count of 200 cells/mL or greater. Serial measurements of safety parameters, virologic and host immune correlates, and adherence were performed during treatment by combination of daclatasvir 90mg and sofosbuvir 400mg+/- ribavirin 800mg daily for 12 weeks. Results In this study, AST & ALT were significantly decreased at end of treatment and 12 weeks after treatment, CD4 count was significantly increased. Otherwise there are no significant changes in both hematological and biochemical laboratory results. The demographic features of the patients and HIV disease characteristics were not predictors of HCV treatment failure. Conclusion More studies on larger numbers of patients are required for proper evaluation of the safety and efficacy of direct acting antiviral agents generally and sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir combination particularly in HIV/HCV coinfected patients. Longer follow-up studies are still recommended to fully understand the impact of sustained virological response on dynamics of liver fibrosis, biochemical profile and rate of relapse.