Factors associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis in end-stage kidney disease patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Diagnostic Accuracy of Noninvasive Tests to Detect Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients With Hepatitis C and End-Stage Renal Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

For patients with liver disease from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection complicated by end-stage renal disease (ESRD), it is important to assess liver fibrosis before kidney transplantation. We evaluated the accuracy of non-invasive tests to identify advanced hepatic fibrosis in patients with HCV and ESRD.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, we collected data on ratio of aspartate aminotransferase:alanine aminotransferase (AST:ALT), AST platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 score, fibrosis index score, and King's score from 139 patients with ESRD and HCV infection (mean age, 52.8 y; 76.3% male; 86.4% African American; 45.3% with increased level of ALT). Results were compared with findings from histologic analyses of biopsies (reference standard). The primary outcome was detection of advanced fibrosis, defined as either bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves were constructed and optimal cutoff values were determined for each test. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. We repeated the analysis with stratification for normal levels of ALT (≤ 35 U/L for men and ≤ 25 u/L for women) and increased levels of ALT.

RESULTS

FIB-4 scores identified patients with advanced fibrosis with an AUROC of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61-0.80), the King's score with an AUROC of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.58-0.80), and the APRI with and AUROC of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.59-0.79). The accuracy of these tests increased when they were used to analyze patients with increased levels of ALT. All tests produced inaccurate results when they were used to assess patients with normal levels of AST and ALT.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with ESRD and HCV infection, FIB-4 scores, King's scores, and the APRI identify those with advanced fibrosis with AUROC values ranging from 0.68-0.71. Accuracy increased modestly when patients with increased levels of ALT were tested, but the tests produced inaccurate results for patients with a normal level of ALT.

Liver fibrosis of hepatitis C virus infection in routine hemodialysis patients in Indonesia

BACKGROUND The risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasing in patients under routine hemodialysis, but only some patients progress to liver fibrosis. This study was aimed to identify the prevalence of significant liver fibrosis in routine hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C infection as well as factors associated with liver fibrosis. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary general hospitals (Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Persahabatan Hospital, and Fatmawati Hospital) in Jakarta, Indonesia, among hemodialysis patients infected with HCV. Total sampling was used from May to September 2017 in hemodialysis unit of all hospitals. Sex, age, time at first diagnosis of HCV, duration of HCV infection, duration of hemodialysis, AST level, hepatitis B virus coinfection and diabetes mellitus were analyzed in association with significant liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was assessed using transient elastography and considered significant if the value was ≥7.1 kPa. Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, and Fisher’s exact tests were used. Risk model was analyzed with logistic regression. RESULTS Of the 133 hemodialysis patients infected with HCV, 71.4% of the subjects had significant liver fibrosis. In the risk model, male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 3.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.74–8.84; p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.03–7.88; p = 0.043) were associated with significant liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of significant liver fibrosis in routine hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C infection was high. Male and DM were associated with significant liver fibrosis.

Effectiveness of Paritaprevir/Ritonavir/Ombitasvir/Dasabuvir in Hemodialysis Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Advanced Liver Fibrosis: Case Reports

Hepatitis C virus infection is common among patients on hemodialysis therapy and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. We investigated the safety and effectiveness of a paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir regimen in a group of 10 patients on hemodialysis therapy with genotype 1a, 1b, or 4 hepatitis C virus infection who had predictors of unfavorable response, such as compensated cirrhosis (7 patients) or advanced fibrosis and failure of previous therapy (3 patients). The treatment, with or without ribavirin, was administered daily for 12 or 24 weeks. Clinical and virologic assessment was performed every 4 weeks during the treatment and at posttreatment weeks 4 and 12. All patients achieved a sustained virologic response at posttreatment week 12. 80% of patients reported at least one adverse event: fatigue and anemia of mild intensity were the most common; a single episode of moderate liver decompensation was observed. The paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir antiviral regimen is effective and well tolerated in genotype 1 or 4 hepatitis C virus-infected patients on hemodialysis therapy with compensated cirrhosis and/or failure of previous treatments.

Hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients

Despite reduction of hepatitis C prevalence after recognition of the virus and testing of blood products, hemodialysis (HD) patients still comprise a high risk group. The natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in dialysis is not fully understood while the clinical outcome differs from that of the general population. HD patients show a milder liver disease with lower aminotransferase and viral levels depicted by milder histological features on liver biopsy. Furthermore, the “silent” clinical course is consistent with a slower disease progression and a lower frequency of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Potential explanations for the “beneficial” impact of uremia and hemodialysis on chronic HCV infection are impaired immunosurveillance leading to a less aggressive host response to the virus and intradialytic release of “hepatoprotective” cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-α and hepatocyte growth factor. However, chronic hepatitis C is associated with a higher liver disease related cardiovascular and all-cause mortality of HD patients. Therapy is indicated in selected patients groups including younger patients with low comorbidity burden and especially renal transplant candidates, preferably after performance of a liver biopsy. According to current recommendations, choice of treatment is IFN or pegylated interferon with a reported sustained viral response at 30%-40% and a withdrawal rate ranging from 17% to 30%. New data regarding combination therapy with low doses of ribavirin which provide higher standard variable rates and good safety results, offer another therapeutic option. The new protease inhibitors may be the future for HCV infected HD patients, though data are still lacking.

Histological features of chronic hepatitis C in haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS

HCV infection in haemodialysis (HD) patients is still a matter of investigation. The aim of this study was to determine the histology of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in HCV-infected HD patients within the context of a comparative analysis including non-uraemic patients with CHC. The relative importance of virological, demographic and clinical parameters on disease manifestation was examined.

METHODS

Sixty-one consecutive liver biopsies from HD patients and 326 from non-uraemic patients with chronic HCV infection were comparatively evaluated.

RESULTS

Haemodialysis patients with CHC were older than control subjects (P = 0.031), showing a similar HCV genotype distribution (P = 0.328) and lower viral load (P = 0.001). CHC in HD patients was significantly milder according to stage (P = 0.033), grade and its parameters (periportal activity, portal inflammation and lobular activity) (P < 0.001). The frequency of lymphoid aggregates (10.2% vs. 50%, P < 0.001), bile duct lesions (1.7% vs. 22.1%, P < 0.001) and extent of steatosis (P = 0.022) in HD group was significantly reduced. Multivariate analysis showed that non-uraemic patients had 2.3 times higher risk of developing steatosis independently of genotype distribution and age. In HD group, genotype 3, longer HD duration and age at infection were significantly associated with steatosis, while older age at infection correlated with advanced fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic hepatitis C in HD patients is usually very mild, losing its diagnostic histological features while patient's age and age at infection retain their prognostic significance. The weak inflammatory response, probably because of immunocompromised status and low viral load, may present a beneficial factor in the natural course of the disease.

Management of hepatitis C in patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease represents a global health problem. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) and in renal transplant recipients with significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, HCV can cause various forms of glomerulopathy with the predominant type being cryglobulinemia associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Liver enzymes are traditionally used as markers of liver injury; however, there is wide variation in aminotransferase levels in patients with ESRD. Therefore, diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients with ESRD is based on HCV antibody testing and further confirmation with polymerase chain reaction testing. Current standard therapy for CHC is composed of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. However, this combination is challenging in patients with ESRD due to its tolerability. We describe in this review relevant issues in epidemiology, diagnosis and management of CHC in ESRD, HD and renal transplant recipients.

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with end-stage renal disease

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The incidence of acute HCV infection during maintenance dialysis is much higher than that in the general population because of the risk of nosocomial transmission. Following acute HCV infection, most patients develop chronic HCV infection, and a significant proportion develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Overall, chronic hepatitis C patients on hemodialysis bear an increased risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality, either during dialysis or after renal transplantation. Interferon (IFN) therapy is modestly effective for the treatment of HCV infection in ESRD patients. Conventional or pegylated IFN monotherapy has been used to treat acute hepatitis C in ESRD patients with excellent safety and efficacy. Regarding chronic hepatitis C, approximately one-third of patients can achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) after conventional or pegylated IFN monotherapy. The combination of low-dose ribavirin and conventional or pegylated IFN has further improved the SVR rate in treatment-naïve or retreated ESRD patients in clinical trials. Similar to the treatment of patients with normal renal function, baseline and on-treatment HCV virokinetics are useful to guide optimized therapy in ESRD patients. Of particular note, IFN-based therapy is not recommended at the post-renal transplantation stage because of the low SVR rate and risk of acute graft rejection. In conclusion, ESRD patients with HCV infection should be encouraged to receive antiviral therapy, and those who achieve an SVR usually have long-term, durable, virological, biochemical, and histological responses.