Antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C in patients with human immunodeficiency virus

Treatment of Acute Hepatitis C Infection with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin in Patients Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Of the 35 million human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients worldwide, 10-40% are coinfected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Compared to HCV-monoinfected patients, those coinfected experience decreased spontaneous HCV clearance, accelerated liver fibrosis, and a decreased response to anti-HCV therapy. We conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy of treating acute HCV in HIV-positive patients with peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy.

METHODS

Two authors independently searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (2014) for English articles, and reviewed bibliographies and abstracts from major liver and HIV conferences (2011-2013). Original studies featuring at least 10 treatment-naive, HIV-positive adults infected with acute HCV and treated with peginterferon and ribavirin were included. Analyses were calculated using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane Q test (p < 0.05) and the I(2) statistic (>50%).

RESULTS

From 12 studies (450 patients), the pooled sustained virological response (SVR) was 71.4% (95% CI 64.7-77.4; Q statistic = 22.20, p = 0.023, I(2) = 50.44). The rapid virological response (RVR; 7 studies, 196 patients) was 47.4% (95% CI 40.6-54.7), and the early virological response (EVR; 9 studies, 283 patients) was 82.8% (95% CI 67.0-92.0). The probability of an SVR was 93.1% (95% CI 84.9-97.0) in those who obtained an RVR (6 studies, 82 patients) and 85.9% (95% CI 78.7-91.0) if an EVR (7 studies, 168 patients) was reached.

CONCLUSION

Peginterferon with ribavirin is an effective option for treating acute HCV in HIV-positive patients, especially if they achieve an RVR or an EVR.

Response-guided therapy for hepatitis C genotype 2 and 3 in those with HIV coinfection

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines recommend that interferon-based treatment of hepatitis C (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 in those with HIV coinfection should be for 48 weeks, especially if HCV PCR remains positive after 4 weeks of treatment.

AIM

To examine a single-center experience using response-guided therapy (RGT) using pegylated interferon (PegIFN) and weight-based ribavirin (RBV) for treating HCV genotype 2 or 3 in those with HIV coinfection.

METHODS

Electronic medical records were used to identify patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 HIV coinfection seen at the Toronto General Hospital Immunodeficiency Clinic from February 2003 to December 2012. HCV PCR was tested after every 4 weeks of treatment until it was negative (<50 IU/mL). RGT protocol was as follows: Those with HCV PCR first negative after 4 weeks (VR4) were treated 24 weeks; first negative after 8 weeks (VR8) treated 36 weeks and VR12 treated 48 weeks.

RESULT

Database search identified 35 individuals with HCV genotype 2 or 3. Twelve were excluded. Total 23 patients completed the treatment and were included for data analysis. Eleven of 23 (48 %) achieved VR4 and eleven of 23 (48 %) achieved VR8. Only one individual had detectable viremia to week 12 and required 48 weeks of treatment. The majority (96 %) were successfully treated with <48 weeks of PegIFN-RBV therapy. One hundred percent achieved SVR with a response-guided HCV therapy.

CONCLUSION

The use of response-guided therapy allows therapy to be shortened in the majority of individuals. HCV PCR testing should be performed every 4 weeks during the first 12 weeks of therapy until HCV PCR is negative.

Treatment outcomes of treatment-naïve Hepatitis C patients co-infected with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohorts

Introduction

Co-infection with Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV is common and HIV accelerates hepatic disease progression due to HCV. However, access to HCV treatment is limited and success rates are generally poor.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess HCV treatment outcomes in observational cohorts. Two databases (Medline and EMBASE) were searched using a compound search strategy for cohort studies reporting HCV treatment outcomes (as determined by a sustained virological response, SVR) in HIV-positive patients initiating HCV treatment for the first time.

Results

40 studies were included for review, providing outcomes on 5339 patients from 17 countries. The pooled proportion of patients achieving SVR was 38%. Significantly poorer outcomes were observed for patients infected with HCV genotypes 1 or 4 (pooled SVR 24.5%), compared to genotypes 2 or 3 (pooled SVR 59.8%). The pooled proportion of patients who discontinued treatment due to drug toxicities (reported by 33 studies) was low, at 4.3% (3.3–5.3%). Defaulting from treatment, reported by 33 studies, was also low (5.1%, 3.5–6.6%), as was on-treatment mortality (35 studies, 0.1% (0–0.2%)).

Conclusions

These results, reported under programmatic conditions, are comparable to those reported in randomised clinical trials, and show that although HCV treatment outcomes are generally poor in HIV co-infected patients, those infected with HCV genotypes 2 or 3 have outcomes comparable to HIV-negative patients.

Cost-effective screening for acute hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-infected men who have sex with men

BACKGROUND

We used a Monte Carlo computer simulation to estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men.

METHODS

One-time screening for prevalent HCV infection was performed at the time of enrollment in care, followed by either symptom-based screening, screening with liver function tests (LFTs), HCV antibody (Ab) screening, or HCV RNA screening in various combinations and intervals. We considered both treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PEG/RBV) alone and with an HCV protease inhibitor. Outcome measures were life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, direct medical costs, and cost-effectiveness, assuming a societal willingness to pay $100000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained.

RESULTS

All strategies increased life expectancy (from 0.49 to 0.94 life-months), quality-adjusted life expectancy (from 0.47 to 1.00 quality-adjusted life-months), and costs (from $1900 to $7600), compared with symptom-based screening. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of screening with 6-month LFTs and a 12-month HCV Ab test, compared with symptom-based screening, was $43 700/QALY (for PEG/RBV alone) and $57 800/QALY (for PEG/RBV plus HCV protease inhibitor). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of screening with 3-month LFTs, compared with 6-month LFTs plus a 12-month HCV Ab test, was $129 700/QALY (for PEG/RBV alone) and $229 900/QALY (for PEG/RBV plus HCV protease inhibitor). With HCV protease inhibitor-based therapy, screening with 6-month LFTs and a 12-month HCV Ab test was the optimal strategy when the HCV infection incidence was ≤1.25 cases/100 person-years. The 3-month LFT strategy was optimal when the incidence was >1.25 cases/100 person-years.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening for acute HCV infection in HIV-infected MSM prolongs life expectancy and is cost-effective. Depending on incidence, regular screening with LFTs, with or without an HCV Ab test, is the optimal strategy.

High uptake of hepatitis C virus treatment in HIV/hepatitis C virus co-infected patients attending an integrated HIV/hepatitis C virus clinic

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease in HIV-infected patients. The HCV treatment outcomes and barriers to HCV referral were examined in a centre with a HIV/HCV co-infection clinic. Patients who were antibody positive for both HIV and HCV between 1987 and January 2009 were identified. A retrospective chart review was undertaken. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess predictors of HCV clinic referral. Data were collected on 386 HIV/HCV patients; 202/386 had been referred to the co-infection clinic and 107/202 had HCV treatment. In addition, 29/202 were undergoing pretreatment work-up. Overall sustained virologic response (SVR) was 44%; SVR was equivalent in those who acquired HIV/HCV infection from intravenous drug use (IDU) and others. On multivariate analysis, patients who missed appointments, were younger, with active IDU and advanced HIV and who were not offered HCV treatment were less likely to be referred to the clinic. Patients attending the clinic were more likely to have been screened for hepatocellular carcinoma than those attending the general HIV service. Two-thirds of patients referred to the clinic had engaged with the HCV treatment programme. Dedicated co-infection clinics lower the threshold for treatment and improve management of liver disease in co-infected patients.

[Measurement of hepatitis C virus RNA 12 weeks after treatment predicts sustained virological response in HIV-HCV co-infected patients]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess whether measurement of hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV-RNA) at 12 weeks post-treatment could predict sustained virological response (SVR) to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C (pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin) in HIV-co-infected patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

HIV-HCV co-infected patients were included if they completed a full course of anti-HCV therapy, achieved an end-of-treatment response and complied with the week +12 and +24 post-treatment follow-up schedule for serum HCV-RNA determination (Real-time HCV (Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany) (lower limit of detection, 12 IU/ml).

RESULTS

Forty out of 66 patients (61%) showed an end-of-treatment response. They were assessed in a follow-up visit at +12 and at +24 weeks post-treatment. Serum HCV-RNA was undetectable in 28 of them at +12 weeks, and 100% of these remained undetectable at 24 weeks post-treatment (the gold standard of (SVR). The positive predictive value was 100% (95% confidence interval, 98.21-100%).

CONCLUSION

Post-treatment follow-up to identify virological relapse could be shortened to 12 weeks, providing a new definition of sustained virological response.

HIV/HCV co-infection: pathogenesis, clinical complications, treatment, and new therapeutic technologies

World-wide, hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for approximately 130 million chronic infections, with an overall 3% prevalence. Four to 5 million persons are co-infected with HIV. It is well established that HIV has a negative impact on the natural history of HCV, including a higher rate of viral persistence, increased viral load, and more rapid progression to fibrosis, end-stage liver disease, and death. Whether HCV has a negative impact on HIV disease progression continues to be debated. However, following the introduction of effective combination antiretroviral therapy, the survival of coinfected individuals has significantly improved and HCV-associated diseases have emerged as the most important co-morbidities. In this review, we summarize the newest studies regarding the pathogenesis of HIV/HCV coinfection, including effects of coinfection on HIV disease progression, HCV-associated liver disease, the immune system, kidney and cardiovascular disease, and neurologic status; and effectiveness of current anti-HIV and HCV therapies and proposed new treatment strategies.