Pegylated Interferon Alfa Research Articles

A Review on Therapeutic Management of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

The current therapeutic goal in the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is to persistently suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and prevent its progression to liver failure and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At present, the therapeutic strategies for CHB includes either a short course of pegylated-interferon-alfa (PEG-IFNa) and/or a long term course of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA’s). NA’s are more preferable to PEG-IFNa, majorly for its easier route of administration and excellent tolerance and safety profiles. Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir (TDF) are the current first line options for its potency to maintain sustained virological response (SVR) in almost 100% of the adherent individuals along with minimal to no long-term resistance. These sustained inhibitions of HBV replication have been shown to be associated with histological improvement, modifying the long-term outcomes. However, HBsAg seroconversion, the best surrogate marker for viral clearance is still unachievable with the current first line agents and hence the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still exists among them. This makes us to still consider, a finite duration of PEG-IFN a that has shown considerable results with regards to HBsAg loss, as an attractive add-on or monotherapy option despite its adverse events profile. Existing evidences do not recommends its usage. However, numerous studies are ongoing and also further studies to evaluate the reliable baseline predictors of response to PEG-IFNa and early on-treatment stopping rules based on age, alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT), HBV DNA levels and HBsAg kinetics would be ideal. existing practice guidelines such as that of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), and Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) assist physicians in the diagnosis and optimal management of CHB; they are still expected to individualize the management considering various factors like cost-effectiveness, compliance, efficacy and duration of anti-viral agents, existence of coinfections etc. [1,3,4]. This article reviews the basis for those guideline recommendations, the natural history of the disease, treatment options and what we do in our practice to illustrate factors that may influence the management of CHB. Natural history of chronic hepatitis B infection

Successful and Safe Long-Term Standard Antiviral Therapy in a Patient with “Explosive” Immune Response in Course of HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized to be both a hepato- and lymphotropic virus. HCV lymphotropism represents an essential detail in the pathogenesis of virus-related autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders, ranging from clonal expansion of B-cells with organ and non-organ-specific autoantibody production up to overt non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma along a continuous step-by-step model of B-cell lymphomagenesis, where the intermediated mixed cryoglobulinemia could be considered as a stage of suppressible antigen-driven lymphoproliferation. The HCV long-lasting extrahepatic replicative state generates an abnormal systemic immunological response, including rheumatoid factor (RF) and cryo- and non-cryoprecipitable immune complexes, as well as clinical manifestations, comprising dermatitis, polyarthralgias and arthritis, pulmonary disease, aplastic anemia, glomerulonephritis and vasculitis. The mechanism of these extra-hepatic disorders is thought of as linked to immune complex disease, but their pathogenesis is poorly clarified. Immune-suppressive treatment could induce high-level hepatitis C viremia and impair hepatic disease. We report a female patient, whose chronic HCV-related liver cirrhosis with associated explosive, but oligosymptomatic lymphoproliferative immune response, i.e., RF beyond three thousand times the upper of normal range (unr), type II cryoglobulinemia with cryocrit 40% and monoclonal gammopathy IgM-k, has been successfully and safely treated by long-lasting (sixty-six months) combined antiviral therapy (pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin), at moderate and tapering dose regimen, prolonged for nearly 24 months after the first viral suppression. At the last follow-up (fifty-one months), the patient was showing very-long term antiviral response, progressive decline of secondary immune activation and absence of significant side-effects. Further research is required to fully verify the real impact on therapeutic choice/regimen.

Pegylated interferon alfa for chronic hepatitis B: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Conventional interferon alfa and nucleos(t)ide analogues, such as lamivudine, are frequently used for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment, but are associated with adverse effects and viral resistance. Here we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating all studies of pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFNα) treatment in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and HBeAg-negative patients with CHB. We searched electronic databases--PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and LILACS--for randomized controlled trials evaluating PEG-IFNα therapy between 1999 and September 2014. Virological response was the primary outcome. We identified 14 studies involving 2829 patients. Our analysis revealed that PEG-IFNα + lamivudine combination therapy produced better virological and biochemical responses than PEG-IFNα monotherapy in HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients at the end of treatment. PEG-IFNα + adefovir dipivoxil achieved better seroconversion rate than PEG-IFNα in HBeAg-positive patients at the end of treatment. The present findings demonstrated a beneficial response rate following PEG-IFNα combination therapy with nucelos(t)ides among HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients with CHB. Further trials are needed to investigate simultaneous and sequential therapy strategies.

ITPA gene variant may protect against anemia induced during pegylated interferon Alfa and Ribavirin combination treatment in Ukrainian patients with chronic hepatitis C

The aim of this study was to clarify the association between the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) gene variants and PEG-IFNalpha/RBV combination treatment induced anemia in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) Ukrainian patients. The data were collected from 80 CHC patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. All study participants received standard doses of PEG-IFNalpha and RBV According to the Hb level changes patients were distributed into: case group--42 patients with combination treatment induced anemia, and control group--38 patients with no signs of anemia. Genotyping for ITPA gene rs1127354 and rs7270101 variants was performed using PCR followed by RFLP assay. Fisher's exact test was used to estimate the difference in genotype and allelic distribution. Distribution of rs 7270101 genotypes was not significantly different between groups of CHC patients with RB Vinduced anemia and without it. The frequency of rs1127354 A allele carriers was significantly higher (P < < 0,05) in group of CHC patients without anemia (23.7%) comparing to the group ofpatients with anemia (7.3%). The respective allele frequency in control group (13.2%) was almost 3-fold higher (P < 0,05) comparing to the case group (4.9%). Significant association of ITPA gene rs1127354 with protection against RB V-induced hemolytic anemia was found in Ukrainian patients with CHC infection. Rs1127354 variant may assist as a pharmacogenetic marker in HCV antiviral therapy correction for side effect avoidance..

The birth and potential death of IL28B genotyping for hepatitis C therapy.

The birth and potential death of IL28B genotyping for hepatitis C therapy.

Chronic Liver Diseases

The term chronic hepatitis encompasses many distinct clinical and pathologic diseases affecting the liver, the most important of which are autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), chronic hepatitis B with or without hepatitis D, and chronic hepatitis C caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The standard treatment of AIH is immunosuppressive therapy either with prednisolone alone or in combination with azathioprine. Although mycophenolate mofetil or cyclosporine can be used for retherapy in the case of treatment failure, controlled clinical trials are missing for these immunosuppressive drugs; thus, they are not part of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) practice guidelines for AIH. Chronic hepatitis B is a major global health care problem as 5% of the world’s population, or approximately 350 million persons, is chronically infected. Anti–hepatitis B virus (HBV) drugs can be divided into three classes: alfa interferons, nucleoside analogue (lamivudine, entecavir, telbivudine), and nucleotide analogue (adefovir dipivoxil, tenofovir dipivoxil). Interferon alfa has a number of potential side effects, and careful consideration must be given to its use. Tenofovir, which falls under the nucleotide analogue class, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2008 and has been shown in clinical trials to have more potent activity in serum-suppressing HBV DNA levels than the comparable adefovir. More prevalent than chronic hepatitis B is chronic hepatitis C due to the high chronicity rate of HCV infection (approximately 160 million people are chronically infected with HCV worldwide). Until 2011, the only treatment for chronic HCV was a combination therapy of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin (RBV); however, new treatments for chronic hepatitis C include the directly acting antivirals (DAAs) sofosbuvir and simeprevir, although host-targeting agents are also being developed. The side effects of pegylated interferon/RBV therapy and DAAs should be considered, of which only sofosbuvir has shown no specific side effects so far in clinical studies. This module contains 5 highly rendered figures, 6 tables, 61 references, and 5 MCQs.

Chronic Liver Diseases

The term chronic hepatitis encompasses many distinct clinical and pathologic diseases affecting the liver, the most important of which are autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), chronic hepatitis B with or without hepatitis D, and chronic hepatitis C caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). The standard treatment of AIH is immunosuppressive therapy either with prednisolone alone or in combination with azathioprine. Although mycophenolate mofetil or cyclosporine can be used for retherapy in the case of treatment failure, controlled clinical trials are missing for these immunosuppressive drugs; thus, they are not part of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) practice guidelines for AIH. Chronic hepatitis B is a major global health care problem as 5% of the world’s population, or approximately 350 million persons, is chronically infected. Anti–hepatitis B virus (HBV) drugs can be divided into three classes: alfa interferons, nucleoside analogue (lamivudine, entecavir, telbivudine), and nucleotide analogue (adefovir dipivoxil, tenofovir dipivoxil). Interferon alfa has a number of potential side effects, and careful consideration must be given to its use. Tenofovir, which falls under the nucleotide analogue class, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2008 and has been shown in clinical trials to have more potent activity in serum-suppressing HBV DNA levels than the comparable adefovir. More prevalent than chronic hepatitis B is chronic hepatitis C due to the high chronicity rate of HCV infection (approximately 160 million people are chronically infected with HCV worldwide). Until 2011, the only treatment for chronic HCV was a combination therapy of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin (RBV); however, new treatments for chronic hepatitis C include the directly acting antivirals (DAAs) sofosbuvir and simeprevir, although host-targeting agents are also being developed. The side effects of pegylated interferon/RBV therapy and DAAs should be considered, of which only sofosbuvir has shown no specific side effects so far in clinical studies. This module contains 5 highly rendered figures, 6 tables, 61 references, and 5 MCQs.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the most frequent causes of comorbidity and mortality in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) population, and liver-related mortality is now the second highest cause of death in HIV-positive patients, so HCV infection should be countered with adequate antiviral therapy. In 2011 began the era of directly acting antivirals (DAAs) and the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors telaprevir and boceprevir were approved to treat HCV-genotype-1 infection, each one in combination with pegylated interferon alfa (Peg-IFN) + ribavirin (RBV). The addition of the first generation DAAs, strongly improved the efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with HCV-genotype 1, both for the HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV coinfected, and the poor response to Peg-IFN + RBV in HCV/HIV coinfection was enhanced. These treatments showed higher rates of sustained virological response than Peg-IFN + RBV but reduced tolerability and adherence due to the high pill burden and the several pharmacokinetic interactions between HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors and antiretroviral drugs. Then in 2013 a new wave of DAAs arrived, characterized by high efficacy, good tolerability, a low pill burden and shortened treatment duration. The second and third generation DAAs also comprised IFN-free regimens, which in small recent trials on HIV-positive patients have shown comforting preliminary results in terms of efficacy, tolerability and adherence.

Association between risk factors, basal viral load, virus genotype and the degree of liver fibrosis with the response to the therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C is an important sociomedical problem worldwide due to frequent progression to chronic disease, occurrence of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Standard pegylated interferon alfa 2a plus ribavirin therapy results in resolution of infection only in 50% of patients. The aim of this study was to determine the association of various factors with response to the therapy in patients with chronic heptitis C virus (HCV) infection. Age and sex of patients, inoculation risk factors, histopathological changes in the liver, viral load and HCV genotype were analyzed. The study included a group of 121 patients with chronic HCV infection. The treatment was carried out 24 weeks for virus genotype 2 and 3, and 48 weeks for genotype 1 and 4. The degree of histopathological changes in the liver was determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, whereas polimerase chain reaction was used for HCV genotyping. In the group of non-responding patients genotype 1 was represented with 100%, while in the other groups, although predominantly present, its percentage was lower. Unresponsiveness to therapy and relapse of disease were associated with higher viral load and advanced fibrosis. Intravenous use of psychoactive substances, as a risk factor, was present in a high percentage in the group of patients with sustained response, while blood transfusion and dialysis were leading risk factors in the group of relapse responders and non-responders. The results of our study showed that the treatment outcome of chronic HCV infection was associated with baseline HCV ribonucleic acid, HCV genotype, route of infection and the degree of histopathological changes in the liver.

Treatment for cryoglobulinemic and non-cryoglobulinemic peripheral neuropathy associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common neurologic complication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.The pathophysiology of the neuropathy associated with HCV is not definitively known; however, proposed mechanisms include cryoglobulin deposition in the vasa nervorum and HCV-mediated vasculitis. The optimal treatment for HCV-related peripheral neuropathy has not been established. To assess the effects of interventions (including interferon alfa, interferon alfa plus ribavirin, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, plasma exchange, and rituximab) for cryoglobulinemic or non-cryoglobulinemic peripheral neuropathy associated with HCV infection. On 26 August 2014, we searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. We also searched two trials registers, the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) (October 2014), and three other databases. We checked references in identified trials and requested information from trial authors to identify any additional published or unpublished data. We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs involving participants with cryoglobulinemic or non-cryoglobulinemic peripheral neuropathy associated with HCV infection.We considered any intervention (including interferon alfa, interferon alfa plus ribavirin, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, plasma exchange, and rituximab) alone or in combination versus placebo or another intervention ('head-to-head' comparison study design) evaluated after a minimum interval to follow-up of at least six months. We used standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. The planned primary outcome was change in sensory impairment (using any validated sensory neuropathy scale or quantitative sensory testing) at the end of the follow-up period. Other planned outcomes were: change in impairment (any validated combined sensory and motor neuropathy scale), change in disability (any validated disability scale), electrodiagnostic measures, number of participants with improved symptoms of neuropathy (global impression of change), and severe adverse events. Four trials of HCV-related cryoglobulinemia fulfiled selection criteria and the review authors included three in quantitative synthesis. All studies were at high risk of bias. No trial addressed the primary outcome of change in sensory impairment. No trial addressed secondary outcomes of change in combined sensory and motor impairment, disability, or electrodiagnostic measures. A single trial of HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinemia treated with pegylated interferon alfa (peginterferon alfa), ribavirin, and rituximab versus peginterferon alfa and ribavirin did not show a significant difference in the number of participants with improvement in neuropathy at 36 months post treatment (risk ratio (RR) 4.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27 to 59.31, n = 9). One study of interferon alfa (n = 22) and two studies of rituximab (n = 61) provided adverse event data. Severe adverse events were no more common with interferon alfa (RR 7.00, 95% CI 0.38 to 128.02) or rituximab (RR 3.00, 95% CI 0.13 to 67.06) compared to the control group. There is a lack of RCTs and quasi-RCTs addressing the effects of interventions for peripheral neuropathy associated with HCV infection. At present, there is insufficient evidence from RCTs and quasi-RCTs to make evidence-based decisions about treatment.

Predictive Value of Interferon-Lambda Gene Polymorphisms for Treatment Response in Chronic Hepatitis C

Background IL28B gene polymorphism is the best baseline predictor of response to interferon alfa-based antiviral therapies in chronic hepatitis C. Recently, a new IFN-L4 polymorphism was identified as first potential functional variant for induction of IL28B expression. Individualization of interferon alfa-based therapies based on a combination of IL28B/IFN-L4 polymorphisms may help to optimize virologic outcome and economic resources.MethodsOptimization of treatment outcome prediction was assessed by combination of different IL28B and IFN-L4 polymorphisms in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 (n = 385), 2/3 (n = 267), and 4 (n = 220) infection treated with pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin with (n = 79) or without telaprevir. Healthy people from Germany (n = 283) and Egypt (n = 96) served as controls.ResultsFrequencies of beneficial IL28B rs12979860 C/C genotypes were lower in HCV genotype 1/4 infected patients in comparison to controls (20–35% vs. 46–47%) this was also true for ss469415590 TT/TT (20–35% vs. 45–47%). Single interferon-lambda SNPs (rs12979860, rs8099917, ss469415590) correlated with sustained virologic response (SVR) in genotype 1, 3, and 4 infected patients while no association was observed for genotype 2. Interestingly, in genotype 3 infected patients, best SVR prediction was based on IFN-L4 genotype. Prediction of SVR with high accuracy (71–96%) was possible in genotype 1, 2, 3 and 4 infected patients who received PEG-IFN/ribavirin combination therapy by selection of beneficial IL28B rs12979860 C/C and/or ss469415590 TT/TT genotypes (p<0.001). For triple therapy with first generation protease inhibitors (PIs) (boceprevir, telaprevir) prediction of high SVR (90%) rates was based on the presence of at least one beneficial genotype of the 3 IFN-lambda SNPs.Conclusion IFN-L4 seems to be the best single predictor of SVR in genotype 3 infected patients. For optimized prediction of SVR by treatment with dual combination or first generation PI triple therapies, grouping of interferon-lambda haplotypes may be helpful with positive predictive values of 71–96%.

The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Two Pegylated Interferon ALFA Treatment for Chronic HCV Infection in China.

The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Two Pegylated Interferon ALFA Treatment for Chronic HCV Infection in China.

Treatment of Naïve Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotypes 2 and 3 with Pegylated Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin in a Real World Setting: Relevance for the New Era of DAA

Evidence based clinical guidelines are implemented to treat patients efficiently that include efficacy, tolerability but also health economic considerations. This is of particular relevance to the new direct acting antiviral agents that have revolutionized treatment of chronic hepatitis C. For hepatitis C genotypes 2/3 interferon free treatment is already available with sofosbuvir plus ribavirin. However, treatment with sofosbuvir-based regimens is 10–20 times more expensive compared to pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV). It has to be discussed if PegIFN/RBV is still an option for easy to treat patients. We assessed the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C genotypes 2/3 with PegIFN/RBV in a real world setting according to the latest German guidelines. Overall, 1006 patients were recruited into a prospective patient registry with 959 having started treatment. The intention-to-treat analysis showed poor SVR (GT2 61%, GT3 47%) while patients with adherence had excellent SVR in the per protocol analysis (GT2 96%, GT3 90%). According to guidelines, 283 patients were candidates for shorter treatment duration, namely a treatment of 16 weeks (baseline HCV-RNA <800.000 IU/mL, no cirrhosis and RVR). However, 65% of these easy to treat patients have been treated longer than recommended that resulted in higher costs but not higher SVR rates. In conclusion, treatment with PegIFN/RBV in a real world setting can be highly effective yet similar effective than PegIFN± sofosbuvir/RBV in well-selected naïve G2/3 patients. Full adherence to guidelines could be further improved, because it would be important in the new era with DAA, especially to safe resources.

Pegylated Interferon Alfa 2a and Small Dose Ribavirin in the Treatment of HCV Genotype 4 in End-Stage Renal Disease

Background:As hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Aim:explore the response rate and adverse effects of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in treating HCV genotype 4 in patients withend stage renal disease (ESRD) waiting renal transplantation. Patients &Methods:This study included 24 patients with ESRD and active HCV infection as detected by clinical, sonographic, biochemical, serological, virological and histological examination with liver biopsy. All patients were under hemodialysis with HCV antibodies positive > 6 months. Viral genotyping and both qualitative and quantitative PCR were carried out before starting therapy. Treatment was continued for 48 weeks using pegasys 135 µg weekly and ribavirin 200 mg daily. The biochemical and virological responses were evaluated regularly during and after treatment. The sustained virological response (SVR) being evaluated 24 weeks later. The side effects were monitored throughout the treatment period. Results:Rapid virological response (RVR) after week 4 was achieved in 11/24 (46%) patients. The sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 16/24 (66.7%) patients. No break through or relapses were detected during and after treatment respectively. Correlation was found between the viral load before treatment and that at week 4 with p < 0.001and at 12 weekand between the reduction of hemoglobin and the reduction of viral load at week 12 with p < 0.045. Conclusion:genotype 4 HCV patients with ESRD can be considered for therapy pre-operatively to overcome all the morbidities associated with persistence of HCV after renal transplantation provided that the general condition, the hematological parameters and all other factors of treatment allowed such therapy.

Onset of Celiac Disease in a Patient Associated With Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Using Interferon-Based Triple Therapy

Introduction: Patients treated with interferon-based therapies for chronic HCV may develop exacerbation of autoimmune disease. We present the first case in the literature of a patient who developed celiac disease (CD) as a result of triple therapy (interferon, ribavirin, and boceprevir) for chronic HCV. Case Report: A 53-year-old white female with past medical history of IV drug abuse, previously treated with interferon monotherapy for HCV genotype 3a, was referred by her PCP for abnormal LFTs. Laboratory data on initial visit was positive for HCV RNA of 4,515,392 IU/mL, HCV genotype 1a, with normal CBC and LFTs. Liver biopsy showed Metavir grade 2 inflammatory activity and stage 1 fibrosis. Treatment was initiated with a 4-week lead-in phase of pegylated interferon alfa 2a plus ribavirin, followed by triple therapy using boceprevir (BOC) for a total of 28 weeks. HCV viral load obtained at week 4, 8, 12, and 21 were <5 IU/mL. The patient achieved ETR and SVR at 6 months. Approximately 4 weeks after initiation of therapy, the patient developed loose, non-bloody bowel movements, which persisted even after completion of therapy associated with dyspnea on exertion, weight loss, and anemia. Initially attributed to interferon therapy, her anemia did not resolve after cessation of therapy. Serum anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA was 85 U/mL. She underwent an upper endoscopy and biopsies from first and second portions of the duodenum, which revealed mild villous blunting, mild crypt hyperplasia, and intraepithelial lymphocytes consistent with celiac disease. The patient was treated with a gluten-free diet. Her intestinal symptoms improved and the hemoglobin returned to normal. Conclusion: Chronic HCV patients treated with interferon alfa can develop celiac disease during or after therapy. Direct acting anti-viral agents may impact the risk. CD should be considered in patients who develop celiac disease-like symptoms while on treatment, or if anemia fails to return to baseline after cessation of interferon.

Lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response by pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

To elucidate the benefits of successful antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients A total of 463 CHC patients who underwent pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy were classified as sustained virological response (SVR) or non-SVR based on response to antiviral therapy. We investigated disease progression to cirrhosis in non-cirrhotic patients, development of cirrhosis-related complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Three hundred patients achieved SVR, and 163 were classified into the non-SVR group. The overall SVR rates were 64.8 %, and multivariate analysis showed that younger age, non-cirrhosis, HCV genotype 2 or 3, lower HCV RNA level (<800,000 IU/mL), and lower body weight were independent factors associated with SVR (all P < 0.05). During a median follow-up of 36.1 months, non-cirrhotic patients with SVR had significantly lower risk of progression to cirrhosis compared with patients with non-SVR (P < 0.001). Moreover, SVR was related to a reduced risk of HCC development (P = 0.017). SVR resulted in significantly more favorable long-term outcomes, such as lower risk of progression to cirrhosis and HCC occurrence compared with non-SVR.

Modeling viral evolutionary dynamics after telaprevir-based treatment.

For patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), the combination of the direct-acting antiviral agent telaprevir, pegylated-interferon alfa (Peg-IFN), and ribavirin (RBV) significantly increases the chances of sustained virologic response (SVR) over treatment with Peg-IFN and RBV alone. If patients do not achieve SVR with telaprevir-based treatment, their viral population is often significantly enriched with telaprevir-resistant variants at the end of treatment. We sought to quantify the evolutionary dynamics of these post-treatment resistant variant populations. Previous estimates of these dynamics were limited by analyzing only population sequence data (20% sensitivity, qualitative resistance information) from 388 patients enrolled in Phase 3 clinical studies. Here we add clonal sequence analysis (5% sensitivity, quantitative) for a subset of these patients. We developed a computational model which integrates both the qualitative and quantitative sequence data, and which forms a framework for future analyses of drug resistance. The model was qualified by showing that deep-sequence data (1% sensitivity) from a subset of these patients are consistent with model predictions. When determining the median time for viral populations to revert to 20% resistance in these patients, the model predicts 8.3 (95% CI: 7.6, 8.4) months versus 10.7 (9.9, 12.8) months estimated using solely population sequence data for genotype 1a, and 1.0 (0.0, 1.4) months versus 0.9 (0.0, 2.7) months for genotype 1b. For each individual patient, the time to revert to 20% resistance predicted by the model was typically comparable to or faster than that estimated using solely population sequence data. Furthermore, the model predicts a median of 11.0 and 2.1 months after treatment failure for viral populations to revert to 99% wild-type in patients with HCV genotypes 1a or 1b, respectively. Our modeling approach provides a framework for projecting accurate, quantitative assessment of HCV resistance dynamics from a data set consisting of largely qualitative information.

New therapies for hepatitis C: considerations in patients with renal impairment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health issue because infection may lead to liver failure, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In patients with renal dysfunction, hepatitis C can also worsen the underlying renal disease. Treating HCV infection is thus mandatory in this population. New therapies for hepatitis C have recently been developed, and some have been launched. Most of them are used in combination with the current standard of care, ribavirin and pegylated interferon alfa. Some of them can be used in regimens without ribavirin and/or pegylated interferon. However, few data are available on dosage adjustment for renal function in patients receiving these very new drugs. We reviewed the literature on this subject and gathered information, although scarce, to propose guidelines for using these drugs in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Widespread Morbilliform Eruption Associated With Telaprevir

Telaprevir, combined with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin, is an efficacious approach to treat hepatitis C virus infection. A morbilliform eruption associated with telaprevir is a common adverse effect experienced by patients. Current guidelines mandate telaprevir discontinuation in any patient with a severe, progressive, or unresponsive cutaneous eruption. Eight patients with a grade 3 (severe) widespread morbilliform eruption associated with telaprevir were referred to dermatology for evaluation and treatment. Each patient received a combination of antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, and thick emollient creams, rendering their eruption tolerable for the duration of treatment. No patients had evidence of a systemic or life-threatening drug reaction, developed a systemic drug eruption, or had to prematurely stop triple therapy secondary to a cutaneous eruption. Patients with an uncomplicated grade 3 (severe) widespread morbilliform eruption associated with telaprevir may be able to continue triple therapy with close monitoring and dermatologic consultation. Given our findings, we propose an additional clinical classification of the telaprevir-associated eruption to better reflect the dermatologic classification of drug eruptions.

Telaprevir-S isomer enhances ribavirin exposure and the ribavirin-related haemolytic anaemia in a concentration-dependent manner

The standard-of-care for the treatment of genotype-1 chronic hepatitis C is based on the combination of direct acting antivirals, such as boceprevir and telaprevir, with ribavirin and pegylated-interferon alfa. These triple regimens give a higher response rate than dual therapy, but on the other hand show a more than 10% higher rate of anaemia. Not enough focus has been given to the interaction between telaprevir and RBV. In this work, we aimed to study and deepen this relationship by comparing ribavirin plasma and intra-erythrocytic concentrations at one month of triple and dual therapy (17 vs. 119 patients). Moreover, we determined telaprevir isomers concentrations and tested them for correlation with ribavirin concentrations and haemoglobin loss at one month of treatment. Finally, all drugs concentration data were tested for their correlation with the renal function during treatment.The comparisons of ribavirin concentration and toxicity data were repeated on a sub-group of 9 patients who had been treated 1year before with dual therapy and then re-treated with triple therapy.The observed ribavirin plasma and intra-erythrocytic concentrations in triple therapy were significantly higher compared to dual therapy, both in whole group and sub-group comparison. Ribavirin concentrations were significantly correlated to the haemoglobin loss and telaprevir-S isomer concentrations (r2=0.317 Pvalue=0.023 and r2=0.388 Pvalue=0.008, respectively). Renal function had a significant decrease from the baseline value, but was not significantly correlated with drugs concentrations.These results highlight for the first time that, in the context of triple therapy with telaprevir, ribavirin exposure is related to the telaprevir-S isomer plasma concentration.We conclude that the addition of telaprevir to the dual therapy increases ribavirin exposure and haemoglobin loss: this effect could probably be managed through the therapeutic drug monitoring of ribavirin and telaprevir-S concentrations.