Association between antiviral treatment and extrahepatic outcomes in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Change in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate After Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection accelerates the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), increasing the risk of kidney failure and end-stage renal disease. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for HCV infection inhibit viral replication by 95-97%, leading to a sustained virologic response. Our objective was to assess renal function in patients with chronic HCV infection in Taiwan after receiving DAA therapy.

GOAL

Our study included 4823 patients with HCV infection who were undergoing DAA therapy. Renal function was evaluated by calculating the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). eGFR assessed at the initiation of the treatment, during treatment, and at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after completion of treatment. The baseline demographic and laboratory parameters of the study participants were evaluated, and the results were analyzed using statistical methods.

RESULTS

The average age of the study participants was 61.35 ± 12.50 years, and 54.5% of were male. The mean of eGFR in baseline and after treatment showed a decrease. Liver fibrosis scores (FIB4, APRI, Fibroscan) and liver function tests were significantly improved after DAA treatment (p = 0.001). However, white blood count (5.41 ± 1.7 vs. 5.73 ± 1.9), platelet count (168.04 ± 74.0 vs. 182.11 ± 69.4), and creatinine levels (1.05 ± 1.3 vs. 1.12 ± 1.3) increased after treatment (p = 0.001). The number of patients with an eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 decreased both during and after treatment (p < 0.001). Among patients with CKD, eGFR improved after DAA treatment (n = 690, 35.93 ± 19.7 vs. 38.71 ± 23.8; 95% CI -3.56-1.98; p = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that renal function improved in patients with CKD who had an eGFR of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 before DAA treatment (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.37-1.91, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In individuals with CKD and a baseline eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2, eGFR level was increased during DAA treatment. This suggests that initiating DAA therapy in HCV-infected patients, even those without clinical manifestations, could be a crucial strategy to prevent further decline in renal function.

Causal Mediation Analyses for the Natural Course of Hepatitis C: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a systemic disease. However, the relative contribution of intrahepatic and extrahepatic diseases to mediating HCV-induced mortality is unclear, albeit critical in resource allocation for reducing preventable deaths. To this end, this study comprehensively quantified the extent to which intrahepatic and extrahepatic diseases mediate HCV-induced mortality.

METHODS

A community-based cohort study with >25 years of follow-up was conducted in Taiwan. HCV infection was profiled by antibodies against HCV and HCV RNA in participants' serum samples. The cohort data were linked to Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to determine the incidences of potential mediating diseases and mortality. We employed causal mediation analyses to estimate the mediation effects of HCV on mortality in relation to the incidences of 34 candidate diseases.

RESULTS

In 18,972 participants with 934 HCV infection, we observed that 54.1% of HCV-induced mortality was mediated by intrahepatic diseases, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, and 45.9% of mortality was mediated by extrahepatic diseases. The major extrahepatic mediating diseases included septicemia (estimated proportion of HCV-induced mortality mediated through the disease: 25.2%), renal disease (16.7%), blood/immune diseases (12.2%), gallbladder diseases (9.7%), and endocrine diseases (9.6%). In women, hypertension (20.0%), metabolic syndrome (18.9%), and type 2 diabetes (17.0%) also mediated HCV-induced mortality. A dose-response relationship of HCV viral load was further demonstrated for the mediation effect.

CONCLUSION

Both intrahepatic and extrahepatic manifestations mediated approximately half of HCV-induced mortality. The mediation mechanisms are supported by a dose-response relationship of HCV viral load.

Changes in Serum Rheumatoid Factor Following Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus Infection With Interferon or Direct Antiviral Therapy

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a myriad of extrahepatic manifestations (EHM), as well as the production of autoantibodies, including rheumatoid factor (RF). This study aims to elucidate whether serum levels of RF change before and after HCV eradication, and whether these changes differ according to the type of therapy used. This is a retrospective cohort study of adults with chronic HCV infection treated with interferon-free or interferon-based regimens. All patients had HCV viremia at baseline and documented sustained virological response (SVR) 12 or 24 weeks after completing treatment. We measured the serum levels of RF at baseline and at SVR-12 or -24 to analyse the changes after eradication. This study enrolled 297 patients (median age, 59 years; female, 48.5%; cirrhosis, 16.8%). Among them, 78 (26.3%) were RF-positive by qualitative serology at baseline. This number decreased to 49 (16.5%) at SVR-12 or -24 (p < 0.001). Quantitatively, the median RF also decreased from 1.6 IU/mL (interquartile range [IQR], undetectable-15.8) to undetectable (IQR, undetectable-6.6 IU/mL) (p < 0.001). Significant reductions were observed in both groups. The proportion with RF seropositivity decreased from 24.3% to 15.4% (p = 0.001) in patients treated with interferon-free agents (n = 214) and from 31.3% to 19.3% (p = 0.006) in patients treated with interferon-based regimens (n = 83), without significant difference between two groups (p = 0.40). Serum RF decreased after HCV eradication, regardless of treatment regimen. Our findings suggest that HCV eradication may attenuate HCV-related autoimmunity.

Association between chronic viral infection-related hospitalization and risk of cardiovascular disease: A population-based cohort study

Chronic viral infection induces immunosenescence and systemic low-grade inflammation, leading to worsened long-term outcomes. We sought to explore the short- and long-term effects of chronic viral infection on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Based on UK Biobank data, exposed group was identified as individuals who had chronic virus infection-related hospitalization (IRH). Unexposed group was randomly selected, matched by 5-year age interval, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index at a ratio up to 1:10. Restricted cubic splines were used to model time-varying effects of IRH in nonproportional Cox models. A cut-off value of 5 years was recorded and used in piecewise Cox proportional hazards models as we estimated short- and long-term effects of IRH on CVD. A total of 2826 exposed participants and 28 212 matched unexposed participants were included. Chronic viral IRH was associated with increased risk of CVD (0-5 years: hazard ratio, 1.57 [95% confidence interval: 1.32, 1.87] and 5+ years: 1.31 [1.06, 1.61]). Elevated risk of stroke was only observed within the initial 5-year follow-up (0-5 years: 1.91 [1.30, 2.81]). The short- and long-term associations were observed in herpes or hepatitis virus IRH with risk of CVD (all p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed long-term association between chronic viral IRH and CVD among female (5+ years: 1.68 [1.27, 2.22]) but not among male. The association between chronic viral infection and elevated CVD risk appeared to be stronger among individuals who did not take cholesterol-lowering medication, antithrombotic medication, or certain antihypertensive medications (all p for interaction < 0.05). The risk of CVD event remained persistently higher within and over 5 years following chronic viral IRH, especially in individuals infected with herpes and hepatitis virus.

Cardioprotective effect of antiviral therapy among hepatitis C infected patients: A meta-analysis

Background

Hepatitis C (HCV) infections have been shown to be associated a with higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the use of antiviral therapy (AVT) and the risk of CVD has not been well established with limited literature.

Objective

We sought to evaluate the association between AVT use post-HCV infection and cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus for relevant articles from inception until 10th March 2023. Primary clinical outcomes were the incidence of any CVD. Secondary endpoints were all-cause of mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral artery disease.

Results

A total of 394,452 patients were included in the analysis (111,076 in the AVT group and 283,376 patients in the NAVT group). The mean age of patients among AVT and NAVT groups was comparable (58.7 vs 58.18). The pooled analysis of primary outcomes showed that AVT was associated with a significantly reduced risk of any CVD (HR, 0.55(95%CI: 0.41-0.75), P < 0.001) compared with the NAVT group of patients. Secondary outcomes including ACM (HR, 0.38(95%CI: 0.32-0.46), P < 0.001), MI (HR, 0.62(95%CI: 0.41-0.94), P = 0.02), and PAD (HR, 0.62(95%CI: 0.41-0.93), P = 0.02) were significantly lower among AVT groups compared with NAVT groups of patients with HCV infection. However, the risk of stroke was comparable between both groups of patients (HR, 0.79(95%CI: 0.58-1.07), P = 0.13).

Conclusion

Our analysis shows HCV-infected patients post-AVT have a significantly lower risk of any CVD, MI, ACM, and PAD compared with NAVT groups of patients.

Association between treatment of hepatitis C virus and risk of cardiovascular disease among insured patients with the virus in the United States

PURPOSE

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is unclear whether HCV treatment affects risk of CVD among patients infected with HCV. We assessed the incidence and risk of CVD among insured patients with HCV infection and evaluated if HCV treatment was associated with reduced CVD risk.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplement databases. Patients newly diagnosed with HCV (vs. patients without HCV) between January 2008 and August 2015 were categorized by treatment (none, insufficient, or minimum effective) based on receipt and duration of anti-HCV treatments. After propensity score matching, time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare CVD risk between patients with HCV versus without and between patients with HCV by treatment type and duration.

RESULTS

HCV was associated with 13% increased risk of developing CVD overall (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 95% CI 1.26-1.35) and with 13% (aHR 1.07-1,18), 9% (aHR 1.03-1.15), and 32% (aHR 1.24-1.40) significantly increased risks of developing coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease, respectively. Among patients with HCV, compared with no treatment, receipt of minimum effective treatment was associated with 24% decreased risk of CVD, and receipt of insufficient treatment was associated with 14% decreased risk of CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals chronically infected with HCV had a higher incidence of CVD. Among patients with HCV, receipt of antiviral treatment for HCV was associated with decreased risk of CVD.

Hepatitis C treatment and long-term outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after resection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study aimed to investigate the survival outcomes of antiviral agents (direct-acting antivirals [DAAs] or interferon [IFN]) in patients with hepatitis C virus who underwent liver resection for primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

This retrospective single-center study included 247 patients, between 2013 and 2020, being treated with DAAs (n = 93), IFN (n = 73), or no treatment (n = 81). Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up time of 50.4 months, the rates of 5-year OS and RFS in the IFN, DAA, and no treatment groups were 91.5% and 55.4%, 87.2% and 39.8%, and 60.9% and 26.7%, respectively. One hundred and twenty-eight (51.6%) patients developed recurrence; recurrence was mostly (86.7%) intrahepatic, and 58 (23.4%) developed early recurrence, most of which received no antiviral treatment. The OS and RFS were similar between patients who received antiviral treatment before (50.0%) and after surgery, but longer survival was observed in patients achieving sustained virologic response. In multivariate analysis, antiviral treatment was protective for OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.475, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.242-0.933) with significance but not RFS, in contrast to microvascular invasion (OS HR 3.389, 95% CI: 1.637-7.017; RFS HR 2.594, 95% CI: 1.520-4.008). In competing risk analysis, DAAs (subdistribution HR 0.086, 95% CI: 0.007-0.991) were protective against hepatic decompensation events but not recurrence events.

CONCLUSION

In patients with hepatitis C virus, antiviral treatment suggested OS benefit for primary hepatocellular carcinoma after resection, and DAAs might be protective against hepatic decompensation. Following adjustment for oncological factors, IFN and DAA treatment was not significantly advantageous relative to the other.

Severe hepatitis B flares with hepatic decompensation after withdrawal of nucleos(t)ide analogues: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Finite nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

AIM

To quantify the incidence of severe hepatitis flares following NUC cessation in everyday clinical practice.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study enrolled 10,192 patients (male 71.7%, median age 50.9 years, cirrhosis 10.7%) who had received first-line NUCs for at least 1 year before discontinuing treatment. The primary outcome was severe flare with hepatic decompensation. We used competing risk analyses to assess event incidences and associated risk factors.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 2.2 years, 132 patients developed severe flares with hepatic decompensation, yielding a 4-year cumulative incidence of 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5%-2.2%). Significant risk factors were cirrhosis (adjusted sub-distributional hazard ratio [aSHR], 2.74; 95% CI, 1.82-4.12), manifestations of portal hypertension (aSHR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.45-4.18), age (aSHR, 1.21 per 10 years; 95% CI, 1.03-1.42) and male sex (aSHR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.04-2.38). In patients without cirrhosis or portal hypertension (n = 8863), the 4-year cumulative incidence of severe withdrawal flares stood at 1.3% (95% CI, 1.0%-1.7%). For those patients with available data confirming adherence to the standard stopping rules (n = 1274), the incidence was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.6%-2.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Severe flares with hepatic decompensation were observed in 1%-2% of patients with CHB after stopping NUC therapy in daily practice. Risk factors included older age, cirrhosis, portal hypertension and male sex. Our findings argue against NUC cessation as part of routine clinical care.

The possible role of Helicobacter pylori in liver diseases

According to previous studies, Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with liver disease. In order to better understand the risk of acquiring various liver diseases, we reviewed current knowledge on the impact of H. pylori on the onset, intensification, and progression of various liver diseases caused by the infection of H. pylori. It has been estimated that between 50 and 90% of people worldwide have been infected with H. pylori. The bacterium is mostly responsible for inflamed gastric mucosa, ulcers, and cancers associated with the gastric mucosa. Through the active antioxidant system in H. pylori, the bacteria can neutralize free radicals by synthesizing VacA, a toxin that causes cell damage and apoptosis. Furthermore, there is a possibility that CagA genes may play a role in cancer development. People who have been infected with H. pylori are likely to develop lesions in the skin, the circulation system, and the pancreas. Moreover, transferring blood from the stomach may allow H. pylori to colonize the liver. The bacterium worsened liver function during autoimmune inflammation, toxic injury, chronic HCV infection, chronic HBV infection, and liver cirrhosis. Increasing portal pressure, hyperammonemia, and esophageal varices may be associated with H pylori infection. As a result, it is crucial to diagnose and treat this infection in patients with H. pylori.

Long-term Evolution of Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients With Antiviral Treatment for Hepatitis C Virus Infection

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Data regarding the long-term evolution of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients receiving antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus are limited.

METHODS

A total of 1987 patients with eGFR ≥15 mL/min/1.73m2 who received interferon or direct-acting antiviral treatment were prospectively enrolled in this cohort study. The eGFR was assessed biannually by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation from the time point of sustained virologic response (SVR12). Multivariate generalized estimated equation was used to assess the association between the factors of interest and evolution of eGFR following antiviral treatment. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to assess the relative risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), defined as an eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73m2.

RESULTS

Patients who achieved SVR12 (adjusted slope coefficient difference: 2.36 mL/min/1.73 m2/year; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50 to 3.32; P < .001) were associated with eGFR improvement, compared with those who did not achieve SVR12. Among patients who achieved SVR12, the eGFR evolution was comparable (adjusted slope coefficient difference: 0.31 mL/min/1.73m2/year; 95% CI, -0.34 to 0.96; P = .35) in those treated with interferon or direct-acting antiviral. The incidence rates of ESRD in patients who achieved and did not achieve SVR12 were 0.06 per 100 person-years and 0.37 per 100 person-years. Patients who achieved SVR12 were associated with a lower risk of ESRD (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.05-0.68; P = .021).

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term eGFR evolution and risk of ESRD are significantly improved in patients who achieve SVR12 with anti- hepatitis C virus treatment.

Increased All-cause Mortality in People With HIV and Comorbidities: Hepatitis B and C Virus Seropositivity and Hyperglycemia in Myanmar, 2005-2017

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection are associated with increased mortality in people with HIV (PWH), and hyperglycemia is a common comorbidity in PWH. In this study, we used routinely collected clinical data to assess the associations between HBV and HCV seropositivity with all-cause mortality and whether this relationship differs by hyperglycemia status.

Methods

Eligible participants included adult PWH (≥15 years) who initiated antiretroviral therapy between May 2005 and June 2016 in Myanmar. HBV and HCV serostatus and hyperglycemia were measured at enrollment to HIV care using HBV surface antigen, HCV antibody tests, and random blood glucose (≥140 mg/dL), respectively.

Results

Among 27 722 PWH, 2260 (8%) were HBV seropositive, 2265 (9%) were HCV seropositive, 178 (0.6%) were HBV-HCV seropositive, and 1425 (5%) had hyperglycemia. During the median follow-up (interquartile range) of 3.1 (1.5-5.1) years, 3655 (13%) PWH died, and the overall mortality rate was 3.8 (95% CI, 3.7-3.9) per 100-person-years (PY). The mortality rate (per 100 PY) among PWH who were HBV seropositive was 4.6, among PWH who were HCV seropositive it was 5.1, and among PWH who were HBV-HCV seropositive it was 7.1. When stratified by glycemic status, the mortality rate was higher among patients with hyperglycemia compared with those with euglycemia (5.4 vs 4.0 per 100 PY), and the difference in mortality rate between patients with hyperglycemia and euglycemia was highest among those with HCV seropositivity (9.8 vs 5.0 per 100 PY).

Conclusions

Increased mortality rates associated with HBV and HCV seropositivity in PWH differed by their glycemic status. PWH with HCV seropositivity and hyperglycemia had the highest mortality rates.

Heart Failure in Chronic Infectious and Inflammatory Conditions: Mechanistic Insights from Clinical Heterogeneity

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The balance between inflammation and its resolution plays an important and increasingly appreciated role in heart failure (HF) pathogenesis. In humans, different chronic inflammatory conditions and immune-inflammatory responses to infection can lead to diverse HF manifestations. Reviewing the phenotypic and mechanistic diversity of these HF presentations offers useful clinical and scientific insights.

RECENT FINDINGS

HF risk is increased in patients with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and relates to disease severity. Inflammatory condition-specific HF manifestations exist and underlying pathophysiologic causes may differ across conditions. Although inflammatory disease-specific presentations of HF differ, chronic excess in inflammation and auto-inflammation relative to resolution of this inflammation is a common underlying contributor to HF. Further studies are needed to phenotypically refine inflammatory condition-specific HF pathophysiologies and prognoses, as well as potential targets for intervention.

Hepatitis C Infection as a Risk Factor for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Diseases: An EpiTer Multicenter Study

Hepatitis C infection is one of the main reasons for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, more and more is being heard about extrahepatic manifestations of the hepatitis C infection including its possible influence on the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. In the given work, the frequency analysis of the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases among 2898 HCV-infected patients treated in Poland and the assessment of their relevance to the HCV genotype and the progression of liver fibrosis can be found. The prevalence of hypertension in the group of analyzed patients was 39% and was significantly associated with old age (OR = 1.08 (1.07-1.08)) and female sex, as well as the progression of liver fibrosis (OR = 1.54 (1.29-1.85)). Hypertension was found in 47.6% of patients with F4 fibrosis, 42.1% of patients with F3 fibrosis, and 25% of patients with F1 fibrosis. The incidence of cardiovascular disease in the studied group of patients was as follows: all incidents, 131 (4.52%); including ischemic heart disease 104, (3.95%); stroke, 2 (0.07%); atherosclerosis, 21 (0.72%); and aneurysms, 4 (0.14%). The obtained results prove that the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is significantly associated with the advanced age of patients and the progression of liver fibrosis. The relevance of sex and the HCV genotype to the prevalence frequency of cardiovascular diseases in the study group has not been proven. This being the case, no differences in the frequency of their incidence depending on the HCV genotype, including genotype 3, was found. Hepatitis C infection as a non-classical risk factor for cardiovascular disease and hypertension does require further studying.

Hepatitis Virus C-associated Nephropathy: A Review and Update

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes hepatic and extrahepatic organ involvement. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent non-communicable disorder, accounting for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Acute kidney injury and CKD are not uncommon sequels of acute or chronic HCV infection.

The pathogenesis of HCV-associated kidney injuries is not well explored. Excess cryoglobulin production occurs in HCV infection. The cryoglobulin may initiate immune complex-mediated vasculitis, inducing vascular thrombosis and inflammation due to cryoglobulin deposits.

Furthermore, direct damage to nephron parts also occurs in HCV patients. Other contributory causes such as hypertension, diabetes, and genetic polymorphism enhance the risk of kidney damage in HCV-infected individuals. Implementing CKD prevention, regular evaluation, and therapy may improve the HCV burden of kidney damage and its related outcomes.

Therefore, in this review, we discuss and update the possible mechanism(s) of kidney injury pathogenesis with HCV infection. We searched for related published articles in EMBASE, Google Scholar, Google, PubMed, and Scopus. We used various texts and phrases, including hepatitis virus and kidney, HCV and CKD, kidney pathology in viral hepatitis, kidney transplantation in HCV-infected patients, kidney allograft survival in viral hepatitis patients, mechanism of kidney pathology in viral hepatitis, dialysis and viral hepatitis, HCV infection and kidney injuries, and viral hepatitis and CKD progression, etc. to identify relevant articles.

Association between Anti-Hepatitis C Viral Intervention Therapy and Risk of Sjögren’s Syndrome: A National Retrospective Analysis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a potential risk factor for Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). However, it is unclear whether anti-HCV intervention therapy could decrease SS risk. A retrospective cohort analysis from 1997–2012 comprising 17,166 eligible HCV-infected adults was conducted. By 1:2 propensity score matching, a total of 2123 treated patients and 4246 untreated patients were subjected to analysis. The incidence rates and risks of SS and death were evaluated through to the end of 2012. In a total follow-up of 36,906 person-years, 177 (2.8%) patients developed SS, and 522 (8.2%) died during the study period. The incidence rates of SS for the treated and untreated cohorts were 5.3 vs. 4.7/1000 person-years, and those of death for the treated and untreated cohorts were 10.0 vs. 14.8/1000 person-years. A lower risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.53–0.87) was present in HCV-infected patients receiving anti-HCV therapy in multivariable Cox regression, and this remained consistent in multivariable stratified analysis. However, there were no relationships between anti-HCV therapy and its therapeutic duration, and SS risk in multivariable Cox regression. In conclusion, anti-HCV intervention therapy was not associated with lower SS risk in HCV-infected patients, but associated with lower death risk.

Impact of Sofosbuvir-Based Direct-Acting Antivirals on Renal Function in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients With Impaired Renal Function: A Large Cohort Study From the Nationwide HCV Registry Program (TACR)

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Sofosbuvir is approved for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of sofosbuvir-based therapy on renal function augmentation on a real-world nationwide basis is elusive.

METHODS

The 12,995 CHC patients treated with sofosbuvir-based (n = 6802) or non-sofosbuvir-based (n = 6193) regimens were retrieved from the Taiwan nationwide real-world HCV Registry Program. Serial estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels were measured at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and end of follow-up (EOF) (3 months after EOT).

RESULTS

The eGFR decreased from baseline (91.4 mL/min/1.73 m2) to EOT (88.4 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < .001) and substantially recovered at EOF (88.8 mL/min/1.73 m2) but did not return to pretreatment levels (P < .001). Notably, a significant decrease in eGFR was observed only in patients with baseline eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (from 112.9 to 106.4 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < .001). In contrast, eGFR increased progressively in patients whose baseline eGFR was <90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (from 70.0 to 71.5 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < .001), and this increase was generalized across different stages of CKD. The trend of eGFR amelioration was consistent irrespective of sofosbuvir usage. Multivariate adjusted analysis demonstrated that baseline eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m2 was the only factor independently associated with significant slope coefficient differences of eGFR (-1.98 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% confidence interval, -2.24 to -1.72; P < .001). The use of sofosbuvir was not an independent factor associated with eGFR change.

CONCLUSIONS

Both sofosbuvir and non-sofosbuvir-based regimens restored renal function in CHC patients with CKD, especially in those with significant renal function impairment.

Cardiovascular Implications of Immune Disorders in Women

Immune responses differ between men and women, with women at higher risk of developing chronic autoimmune diseases and having more robust immune responses to many viruses, including HIV and hepatitis C virus. Although immune dysregulation plays a prominent role in chronic systemic inflammation, a key driver in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), standard ASCVD risk prediction scores underestimate risk in populations with immune disorders, particularly women. This review focuses on the ASCVD implications of immune dysregulation due to disorders with varying global prevalence by sex: autoimmune disorders (female predominant), HIV (male-female equivalent), and hepatitis C virus (male predominant). Factors contributing to ASCVD in women with immune disorders, including traditional risk factors, dysregulated innate and adaptive immunity, sex hormones, and treatment modalities, are discussed. Finally, the need to develop new ASCVD risk stratification tools that incorporate variables specific to populations with chronic immune disorders, particularly in women, is emphasized.

Four prescribed Chinese herbal medicines provide renoprotection and survival benefit without hyperkalemia risk in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used as adjuvant treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for years. Astragalus membranaceus (A. membranaceus, Huangqi [A]), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Danggui [S]), Rheum palmatum L. (Dahuang [R]), and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen [D]) are considered as potentially renoprotective CHMs. However, there is limited evidence on whether ASRD use affects outcomes and causes hyperkalemia in patients with stage 4 and stage 5 advanced CKD.

PURPOSE

To investigate between ASRD use (vs. nonuse) and risks of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), death, and hyperkalemia in patients with advanced CKD.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective nationwide cohort study using claims data from the Taiwan's 2005 Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database in 2000-2016.

METHODS

A total of 24,572 patients with advanced CKD were identified and 15,729 eligible patients were enrolled in the propensity score matching, with 1,401 incident ASRD users (8.9%) and 14,328 nonusers (91.1%). Finally, 1,076 ASRD users and 4,304 matched nonusers were subjected to analysis. We used Cox proportional hazards regression model to estimate the hazard ratios for ESRD and death and Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratio of hyperkalemia. The additive effect of one to four ASRD and the pooling effect of individual ASRD on risks of ESRD and death were also addressed.

RESULTS

In a total follow-up of 15,740 person-years, 2,703 patients (50.2%) developed ESRD and 499 (9.3%) died before progression to ESRD. As compared with nonusers, ASRD users were associated with adjusted hazard ratios of 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.91) for ESRD and 0.78 (0.30-0.93) for death, as well as adjusted incidence rate ratios of 0.54 (0.48-0.60) for inpatient hyperkalemia and 0.44 (0.42-0.46) for total hyperkalemia. The renal and survival benefits of ASRD use were consistent across almost patient subgroups on multivariate stratified analyses. Using all four ASRD provided the lowest risks of ESRD (0.30; 0.71-0.52) and death (0.32; 0.17-0.63). Individual use of ASRD also demonstrated comparable renal and survival benefits.

CONCLUSION

ASRD use was associated with lower risks of ESRD and death among advanced CKD patients. This benefit did not increase hyperkalemia risk.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in HCV-positive Egyptian patients: the impact of HCV eradication on plasma BNP levels

Background

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a major health-related burden in Egypt. HCV is considered as a major cardiovascular risk factor. BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) has been determined as a credible diagnostic and prognostic cardiac biomarker. We aimed to assess plasma BNP in HCV-positive Egyptian patients prior and after HCV eradication by direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) therapy. Eighty-nine chronic HCV-positive patients were enrolled in our prospective research. They were provided with DAAs therapy in the form of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir without or with ribavirin for 12 weeks. History, clinical evaluation, and laboratory assessment: CBC, liver and kidney function tests, viral markers (HCVAb, HBVsAg, and HIVAb) by ELISA, HCV RNA by real-time PCR, and BNP by ELISA were assessed. FIB-4 and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) scores were ranked.

Results

Plasma BNP displayed a non-significant (p = 0.124) increase of its serum mean values in post eradication of HCV than its baseline values. Baseline BNP exhibited a significant positive correlation with FIB4 (r = 0.411, P < 0.001) and APRI score (r = 0.418, p < 0.001) with a considerably negative correlation with platelets (r = − 0.274, p = 0.009), in addition to higher pretreatment BNP values in cirrhotic than in non-cirrhotic patients (p < 0.001), while non-significant relations were found regarding sex, BMI, and drug regimen (with or without ribavirin) (p = 0.950, 0.845, and 0.738, respectively). Additionally, plasma BNP values considerably decreased post-treatment in patients presented with higher baseline BNP values and more advanced liver disease (higher FIB4, APRI, and the presence of liver cirrhosis).

Conclusion

Our findings propose on the one side, the necessity of cardiac monitoring during chronic HCV infection and, on the other, the valuable impacts of HCV eradication on HCV-associated cardiac morbidities.

A Review on Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection and the Impact of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy

Extrahepatic manifestations are a feature of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In the course of chronic HCV infection, about 70% of patients have one or more extrahepatic manifestations. The latter are often the first and only clinical sign of infection. Experimental and clinical data support a causal association for many extrahepatic manifestations and HCV infection, which include mixed cryoglobulinemia, non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, neurological and psychiatric disease and other rheumatic diseases. All these extrahepatic conditions influence the morbidity, quality of life and mortality of HCV-infected patients. Currently, interferon-free therapeutic regimens with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) offer the possibility of treatment to almost the entire infected population, irrespective of stage of cirrhosis and associated serious comorbidities, always maintaining a high efficacy and tolerability. Several studies have shown a close association between HCV clearance by DAAs and an improvement or reduction in the risk of extrahepatic manifestations. Patients with HCV after a sustained virologic response (SVR) by DAA treatment have a lower risk than non-responders of developing cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Furthermore, the SVR by DAA also reduces the risk of acute coronary syndrome, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and it improves atherosclerosis. HCV clearance by DAA also improves the quality of life and survival of patients with chronic HCV infection with associated extrahepatic diseases. Thus, DAAs should be initiated as early as possible in HCV patients with extrahepatic manifestations.

Impact of direct acting antivirals (DAA) on neurologic disorders in chronic hepatitis C

INTRODUCTION

Neurologic and neuropsychiatric manifestations sometimes provide the first evidence of an unknown HCV infection. These conditions develop with a variable ranging of morbidity, including: "brain fog," fatigue, subtle cognitive and attention impairment, but also with more severe complications or acute presentation, like encephalomyelitis, encephalopathy, stroke and peripheral nerves involvement.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We performed a systematic literature search on PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases for articles only in English language, that assessed the relationship between "DAA treatment and neurologic disorders" and after the attainment of SVR in full reports of cases that received the DAA schedule from January 2015 to December 2019. The following terms were used: "chronic Hepatitis C," "HCV," "DAA," "direct-acting antiviral," "SVR," "sustained virologic response," peripheral neuropathy" and "neurologic diseases or disorders."

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

HCV infection does not only involve the liver, causing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but also induces extrahepatic manifestations (EHM), mainly due to a complex immune disease, that damage small and medium vessels, called "mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis" (MCV). This kind of mechanism generates most of the HCV-induced neurological damages. Since 2015, the availability of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) oral molecules interfering with HCV replication has completely revolutionized therapeutic options and the target population, which now includes patients aged 12 to 80 years and with advanced liver disease. Relevant was the highlighted DAA effectiveness by achievement of a sustained virologic response (SVR) in about 95% of cases, showing a great tolerability.

CONCLUSIONS

This favorable effect has arisen in a wide category of patients infected by HCV, including subjects with cirrhosis and complications and/or with EHM, who showed a significant improvement of their symptoms and the disease regression. In this concise review, we examine the clinical outcomes after the introduction of the DAA for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), focusing on the neurologic disorders and concluding that there is a strong amelioration of neurologic conditions in several cases, particularly, after attaining the viral eradication with a favorable course in most treated cases.

Cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) promotes aortic endothelial inflammation and accelerates atherosclerosis through the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β axis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Pathophysiological similarities between chronic infections and atherosclerosis triggered interests between these conditions. The seroepidemiological study showed that Helicobacter pylori strains that express cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA), an oncoprotein and a major virulence factor, was positively correlated with atherosclerosis and related clinical events. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, the seroprevalence of infection by H. pylori and by strains express CagA assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the prevalence of CagA strains rather than H. pylori in patients was positively correlated with atherogenesis. Correspondingly, we found that CagA augmented the growth of plaque of ApoE^-/- mice in the early stage of atherosclerosis and promoted the expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokines in mouse aortic endothelial cells (MAECs). Mechanistically, both si-NLRP3 and si-IL-1β mitigated the promoting effect of CagA on the inflammatory activation of HAECs. In vivo, the inhibition of NLRP3 by MCC950 significantly attenuated the promoting effect of CagA on plaque growth of ApoE^-/- mice. We also propose NLRP3 as a potential therapeutic target for CagA-positive H. pylori infection-related atherosclerosis and emphasize the importance of inflammation in atherosclerosis pathology.

Renal function trajectories in hepatitis C infection: differences between renal healthy and chronic kidney disease individuals

Associations between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been reported; however, differences of renal progression between general and CKD population remain to be elucidated in prospective studies. A total of 1179 participants, who have tested for anti-HCV antibody, were enrolled and prospectively followed for 3 years. The risks associated with HCV infection, in terms of incidence of CKD, annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) changes and 50% decline of eGFR at 3-year from baseline, were compared between normal renal function subjects and CKD patients. Overall, 111 of 233 (47.6%) CKD patients and 167 of 946 (17.7%) non-CKD subjects had HCV infection. The crude incidence rates of CKD were 226.9 per 1000 person-years and 14.8 per 1000 person-years in in HCV and non-HCV infected patients, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio of HCV infection for incident CKD was 7.9 (95% CI 5-12.7). The HCV-infected normal renal function subjects were independently associated with increased risks of eGFR decline in the 1-year, 2-year and 3-year, respectively. The risk associations remained significant in 50% decline of eGFR at 3 years models and in different subgroup analyses. The increases of risks of eGFR decline were also notorious among overall HCV-infected CKD patients. However, the risk associations were less prominent in subgroup analyses (elderly, women and diabetic patients). The findings highlighted the importance of viral diagnosis with not only prognostic but also public health implications for preserving kidney function.

Elbasvir/grazoprevir is effective and tolerable for the treatment of HCV GT1-infected patients: A real world multicenter observatory study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by elbasvir/grazoprevir (EBR/GZR) was found to be efficacious and well tolerated in clinical trials. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of EBR/GZR in the treatment of HCV genotype 1-infected Taiwanese patients.

METHODS

Chronic hepatitis C patients infected with GT1b or 1a without resistance-associated substitution, and treated with 12-week EBR/GZR were enrolled from 10 hospitals in Taiwan between August 2017 and December 2018. All clinical and virologic data were collected at each participating center. Primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virologic response at week 12 (SVR12) after end of the EBR/GZR therapy, assessed in the per-protocol population, which excluded patients with important deviations from the protocol. Analysis was also performed based on the modified full analysis set, which included all allocated patients receiving at least 4-week medication. Virologic failure was recorded as breakthrough, nonresponse, or relapse. Safety was assessed through collection of adverse events, physical examination, vital signs, and standard laboratory evaluations.

RESULTS

Per protocol SVR12 rates were 99.5% (1169/1175) for all HCV genotype 1 patients. Among patients with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney diseases, 100% (107/107) achieved SVR12. In univariate analyses, variables associated with SVR12 were treatment termination (P < 0.0001) and treatment adherence (P < 0.0001) in the mFAS population. Overall, 22.3% of the patients experienced adverse events during treatment. Seven patients did not complete the treatment, five due to liver-unrelated deaths, one due to adverse event and one due to epilepsy.

CONCLUSIONS

EBR/GZR treatment was highly effective and well tolerated.

Impact of Direct-Acting Antivirals (daas) on cardiovascular diseases in patients with chronic hepatitis C

In the last years the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was a relevant public health problem due to the large number of affected people worldwide and the impact on hepatic and extrahepatic complications. The availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and the very high rate of sustained virological response (SVR) after treatment has radically changed the course of HCV chronic infection. Robust evidence showed a close link between HCV infection and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as result of the atherogenic effect of the virus. This review aims to explore the evidence linking HCV infection with cardiovascular disease and to evaluate the impact of SVR after DAAs on cardiovascular complications.

Metabolic and cardiovascular complications after virological cure in hepatitis C: What awaits beyond

The association between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection and extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs), particularly cardiometabolic diseases, has been extensively examined. However, there has still been insufficient evaluation for these EHMs after virological cure. Several multidirectional mechanisms have been proposed explaining the ability of hepatitis C virus (HCV) developing EHMs, cardiometabolic ones, as well as the effect of antiviral therapy to resolve these EHMs. Data on these manifestations after achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) are still conflicting. However, current evidence suggests that reversal of hepatic steatosis and its coexistent hypocholesterolemia after successful viral eradication led to unfavorable lipid profile, which increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Additionally, most observations showed that metabolic alterations, such as insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus (DM), undergo some degree of reduction after viral clearance. These changes seem HCV-genotype dependent. Interferon-based antiviral therapy and direct acting antiviral drugs were shown to minimize incidence of DM. Large epidemiological studies that investigated the effect of SVR on CVD showed great discrepancies in terms of results, with predominant findings indicating that CVD events decreased in patients with SVR compared to non-responders or untreated ones. In this review, we present a summary of the current knowledge regarding extrahepatic sequelae of CHC following SVR, which may have an impact on healthcare providers’ clinical practice.

Effect of Direct Antiviral Agents on Atherosclerosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and is associated with cardiovascular events. Mechanisms include inflammatory cytokines, endothelial dysfunction, and increased oxidative stress.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective was to evaluate the response of carotid atherosclerosis to treatment with direct-antiviral agents.

METHODS

We developed a prospective cohort study that included patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), without cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, significative chronic kidney disease or coinfections. Clinical characteristics, laboratory values and carotid ultrasound to measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and look for established atherosclerosis were performed at baseline and 3 months after completing treatment with DAAs.

RESULTS

A total of 24 patients were included. The mean age was 60 years and 79% were women. The prevalence of smoking was 41.7%, obesity 25% and hypertension 20.8%. Age, arterial hypertension, genotype, AST, glomerular filtration rate and cirrhosis were significantly associated with established carotid atherosclerosis. After treatment with DAAs, an overall significant reduction of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was found (p = 0.004). A trend towards reduction of significant CIMT (>0.9 mm) (20.8 vs. 8.3%, RR 1.18, IC 95% 0.75-1.86, p = 0.29) and a statistically significant resolution of atherosclerotic plaque (45.8 vs. 41.7% RR 0.09, IC 95% 0.01-0.63, p = 0.001) was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with DAAs decrease carotid thickening, atheromatous plaques, and inflammatory markers like CRP. More studies are needed to confirm this finding and its impact on long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

Impact of DAA-Based Regimens on HCV-Related Extra-Hepatic Damage: A Narrative Review

Two-third of patients with chronic hepatitis C show extrahepatic manifestations due to HCV infection of B lymphocytes, such as mixed cryoglobulinemia and non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma, or develop a chronic inflammatory status that may favor the development of adverse cardiovascular events, kidney diseases or metabolic abnormalities.DAAs treatments induce HCV eradication in 95% of treated patients, which also improves the clinical course of extrahepatic manifestations, but with some limitations. After HCV eradication a good compensation of T2DM has been observed, but doubts persist about the possibility of obtaining a stable reduction in fasting glucose and HbA1c levels.Chronic HCV infection is associated with low total and LDL cholesterol serum levels, which however increase significantly after HCV elimination, possibly due to the disruption of HCV/lipid metabolism interaction. Despite this adverse effect, HCV eradication exerts a favorable action on cardiovascular system, possibly by eliminating numerous other harmful effects exerted by HCV on this system.DAA treatment is also indicated for the treatment of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome, since HCV eradication results in symptom reduction and, in particular, is effective in cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. Furthermore, HCV eradication exerts a favorable action on HCV-related lymphoproliferative disorders, with frequent remission or reduction of clinical manifestations.There is also evidence that HCV clearance may improve impaired renal functions, but same conflicting data persist on the effect of some DAAs on eGFR.

Antiviral treatment for hepatitis C is associated with a reduced risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) may be associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the evidence for whether antiviral therapy for HCV could reduce the risk of CVD events is inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between anti-HCV treatment and the risk of CVD. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases from inception to 20 August 2020. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of the risk of CVD events [any CVD, coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke] was calculated using the random-effects model. A total of eleven studies, including 309,470 subjects, were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Among those, four studies reported on any CVD between anti-HCV-treated and anti-HCV-untreated patients, five studies reported on CAD, and five studies reported on stroke. Also, five studies reported on any CVD between patients with sustained virological response (SVR) and without SVR. Overall, antiviral therapy for HCV was associated with a reduced risk of any CVD (HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.50-0.83), CAD (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.96) and stroke (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.64-0.86). Besides, we found that SVR was associated with a significant decrease in any CVD compared with non-SVR (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.60-0.92). In conclusion, this meta-analysis demonstrated that antiviral therapy for HCV was associated with a reduced risk of CVD events. In addition, the risk of CVD events was lower in individuals with SVR compared with those without SVR.

Sex Differences in Extrahepatic Outcomes After Antiviral Treatment for Hepatitis C

INTRODUCTION

Despite recognized differences in the rates of cardiovascular and renal disease between men and women in the general population, studies of the downstream effects of antiviral treatment for hepatitis C (HCV) have not investigated differences in outcomes based on sex. We analyzed sex differences in risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and ischemic stroke by treatment and response in a large US-based multisite cohort of HCV patients.

METHODS

Observation started at the HCV diagnosis date (untreated) or last antiviral treatment start (treated). Treatment selection bias was addressed using an inverse probability-weighting approach. We estimated the effect of treatment on the cumulative incidence of outcomes using the Fine-Gray method (subdistribution hazard ratios [sHR] and 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]). Death was a competing risk.

RESULTS

Roughly 40% of 15,295 HCV patients were women. After controlling for other risk factors, sustained virological response (SVR) (interferon-based [IFN] or direct-acting antiviral [DAA]) significantly reduced risk of all outcomes, particularly among female patients. Female patients who achieved SVR after IFN-based treatment had significantly lower risk of ACS compared with male patients with SVR from either treatment type (sHR 0.45 [95% CI 0.35-0.59] vs 0.81 [95% CI 0.69-0.96, for DAA SVR] and sHR 0.72 [95% 0.62, 0.85, for IFN SVR]). Successful treatment seemed to be most protective against ESRD; female patients who achieved SVR were at 66%-68% lower risk than untreated patients (sHR 0.32 [95% CI 0.17-0.60 for DAA SVR] and 0.34 [95% CI 0.20-0.58 for IFN SVR]), whereas men were at 38%-42% lower risk (sHR 0.62 [95% CI 0.46-0.85 for DAA SVR] and 0.58 [95% CI 0.43-0.76 for IFN SVR]). IFN treatment failure significantly increased risk of all outcomes by 50%-100% among female patients. Compared with no treatment, female patients who experienced IFN treatment failure were at 63% increased risk of ACS (sHR 1.63 [95% CI 1.35-1.96]), almost twice the risk of ESRD (sHR 1.95 [95% CI 1.43-2.66]) and 51% increased risk of stroke (sHR 1.49 [95%CI 1.11-2.00]).

DISCUSSION

SVR reduced the risk of extrahepatic complications, particularly in females. The significantly increased risk associated with IFN TF in women-a subset who represented roughly 10% of that group-underscores the importance of prioritizing these patients for DAA treatment irrespective of the fibrosis stage.

Beneficial effects of DAAs on cardiac function and structure in hepatitis C patients with low-moderate liver fibrosis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic infection has been associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases. An altered morphology and function of both left and right heart have been described in HCV patients; however, the causality of the association is still debated. Ninety-eight nonobese and nondiabetic HCV patients (59.5 ± 12.0 years; males 52%) with Fibroscan-Transient Elastography assessed low-moderate liver fibrosis that achieved sustained viral response at 12 and 24 weeks after DAAs (direct-acting antivirals) participated. 56 were matched with 52 control subjects for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors at baseline. A trans-thoracic echocardiography was performed in each subject at baseline (T0) and repeated in all HCV patients after eradication (6 months later eligibility, T1). TNF-α and IL-10 were measured at baseline and at T1. A concentric remodelling of the left heart in HCV participants was identified, whereas tricuspidal annular plane systolic excursion, right indexed atrial volume, right basal ventricular diameter, inferior vena cava diameter and pulmonary arterial pressure were higher in HCV participants compared to matched controls. After virus eradication, left indexed atrial volume and all right cardiac chambers measures were lower than baseline. A significant reduction of TNF-α was shown at T1, while IL-10 did not change. This study shows a concentric remodelling of the left ventricle and structural modifications in the right sections in HCV patients compared to controls. Virus eradication with DAAs was associated with a reduction of the main right atrioventricular parameters indicating a direct involvement of the HCV in cardiac changes.

Successful Antiviral Therapy Reduces Risk of Schizophrenia Among Chronic Hepatitis C Patients: A Nationwide Real-World Taiwanese Cohort (T-COACH)

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has been associated with major psychoses, and interferon (IFN)-based therapy may cause psychiatric sequelae. We aimed to evaluate the effects of sustained virological response (SVR) on the incidence of major psychoses in a nationwide Taiwanese CHC cohort.

METHODS

Fifteen thousand eight hundred thirty-six CHC Taiwanese who received IFN-based therapy were enrolled between 2003 and 2015. Of those, 12 723 patients were linked to the National Health Insurance Research Databases for the incidence of major psychoses. Death before major psychoses was considered a competing risk.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients developed new-onset major psychoses during 67 554 person-years (3.6 per 10 000 person-years), including 16 affective psychoses, 7 schizophrenia, and 1 organic psychotic condition. The incidence of major psychoses and affective psychoses did not differ between the SVR and non-SVR groups. The 10-year cumulative incidence of schizophrenia were significantly higher in the non-SVR than in SVR patients (0.14% vs 0.04%, P = .036). Cox subdistribution hazards showed that SVR and older age were associated with a significantly lower risk of schizophrenia (hazard ratio = 0.18 and 0.17). Sustained virological response was associated with decreased incidence of schizophrenia and majorly observed among patients with age <45 (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Successful IFN-based therapy might reduce the incidence of schizophrenia among CHC patients, especially among younger patients.

Influence of hepatitis C virus co-infection and hepatitis C virus treatment on risk of chronic kidney disease in HIV-positive persons

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the impact of HCV cure on CKD in HIV-positive persons in the EuroSIDA study.

METHODS

HIV-positive persons with known HCV status and at least three serum creatinine measurements after 1/1/2004 were compared based on time-updated HCV-RNA and HCV treatment: anti-HCV-negative, spontaneously cleared HCV, chronic untreated HCV, successfully treated HCV, and HCV-RNA positive after HCV treatment. Poisson regression compared incidence rates of CKD [confirmed (>3 months apart) eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m] between HCV strata.

RESULTS

Fourteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty-four persons were included; at baseline 9273 (62.9%) were HCV-Ab negative, 696 (4.7%) spontaneous clearers, 3021 (20.5%) chronically infected, 922 (6.2%) successfully treated and 842 (5.7%) HCV-RNA positive after treatment. During 115 335 person-years of follow-up (PYFU), 1128 (7.6%) developed CKD; crude incidence 9.8/1000 PYFU (95% CI 9.2-10.4). After adjustment, persons anti-HCV negative [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) 0.59; 95% CI 0.46-0.75] and spontaneous clearers (aIRR 0.67; 95% CI 0.47-0.97) had significantly lower rates of CKD compared with those cured whereas persons chronically infected (aIRR 0.85; 95% CI 0.65-1.12) and HCV-RNA positive after treatment (aIRR 0.71; 95% CI 0.49-1.04) had similar rates. Analysis in those without F3/F4 liver fibrosis using a more rigorous definition of CKD showed similar results.

CONCLUSION

This large study found no evidence that successful HCV treatment reduced CKD incidence. Confounding by indication, where those with highest risk of CKD were prioritized for HCV treatment in the DAA era, may contribute to these findings.

Clinical effects of simvastatin in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving sofosbuvir/daclatasvir combination. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study

Aim of the study

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) affects more than 71 million people worldwide. Many therapies containing different direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are now used. However, lipid profile is considered an important outcome with DAAs. So, this study aimed to assess clinical effects of statins in CHC patients.

Material and methods

One hundred patients were recruited from Kobri El koba Armed Forces Hospital and randomly assigned to: the drug group (D;n = 50) receiving simvastatin 10 mg plus sofosbuvir 400 mg/daclatasvir 60 mg (SOF/DAC) daily for 12 weeks; and the placebo group (P; n = 50), receiving placebo plus the same (SOF/DAC) regimen. Sustained virological response at 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12), lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrosis stage were assessed.

Results

One hundred treatment-naïve CHC patients completed 12 weeks of the protocol with no clinically significant side effects. There was an increase in SVR failure rate in P (10%) compared to D (only 2%) but not reaching statistical significant difference; SVR12 (p > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that high baseline CRP, low baseline hemoglobin level and non-statin usage had an independent effect on increasing the probability of SVR failure in both groups; p = 0.03, p = 0.0028, p = 0.02, respectively.

Conclusions

Statins could have an irreplaceable role in successful treatment of CHC patients receiving sofosbuvir/daclatasvir.

Infection and atherosclerosis: TLR-dependent pathways

Atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) is a chronic process, with a progressive course over many years, but it can cause acute clinical events, including acute coronary syndromes (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. In addition to a series of typical risk factors for atherosclerosis, like hyperlipidemia, hypertension, smoking and obesity, emerging evidence suggests that atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, suggesting that chronic infection plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most characteristic members of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which play an important role in innate immune mechanism. TLRs play different roles in different stages of infection of atherosclerosis-related pathogens such as Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae), periodontal pathogens including Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Overall, activation of TLR2 and 4 seems to have a profound impact on infection-related atherosclerosis. This article reviews the role of TLRs in the process of atherosclerosis after C. pneumoniae and other infections and the current status of treatment, with a view to providing a new direction and potential therapeutic targets for the study of ASVD.

Retrieval and re-evaluation of previously diagnosed chronic hepatitis C infections lost to medical follow-up in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVES

Many individuals previously diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are likely to be lost to medical follow-up and, therefore, remain untreated despite new highly effective drug treatment, direct acting antivirals. We aim to identify and retrieve these chronic HCV-infected individuals to re-evaluate them and offer treatment.

METHODS

Possible chronic HCV infections were identified from test results of the medical microbiological laboratory, notifications to the public health service, and the hospital registries over the past 15 years were checked in South Limburg, the Netherlands. Individuals were contacted based on the physician-patient relationship of the gastroenterologist or microbiologist (retrieval). Individuals were informed about the new treatment options, offered an HCV-RNA test, and if still positive, referred to the gastroenterologist for treatment (re-evaluation).

RESULTS

In total, 689 individuals with a positive anti-HCV test in the past were identified, 308 (45%) were eligible for retrieval, 90 (29%) of them were retrieved, 34 (38%) of those retrieved were re-evaluated, 19 (56%) of those tested were HCV-RNA positive, and 12 (63%) of these individuals were offered treatment.

CONCLUSION

During every step of the retrieval chain, many patients were lost. Nevertheless, with substantial effort, we were able to identify, retrieve, and positively re-evaluate a limited number of individuals with a possible chronic HCV infection who were lost to medical follow-up (19 patients). With this case-finding approach, we were able to prevent potential severe complications in these patients and contribute to a small step in the eradication of HCV in the Netherlands.

2020 Taiwan consensus statement on the management of hepatitis C: Part (II) special populations

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a silent killer that leads to rapid progression of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). High prevalence of HCV infection has been reported in Taiwan, especially in high-risk populations including people who inject drugs (PWID) and patients requiring dialysis. Besides, certain populations merit special considerations due to suboptimal outcome, potential drug-drug interaction, or possible side effect. Therefore, in the second part of this 2-part consensus, the Taiwan Association for the Study of the Liver (TASL) proposes the treatment recommendations for the special population in order to serve as guidance to optimizing the outcome in the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) era. Special populations include patients with acute or recent HCV infection, previous DAA failure, chronic kidney disease, decompensated cirrhosis, HCC, liver and other solid organ transplantations, receiving an HCV viremic organ, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV dual infection, HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection, active tuberculosis infection, PWID, bleeding disorders and hemoglobinopathies, children and adolescents, and pregnancy. Moreover, future perspectives regarding the management of hepatitis C are also discussed and summarized in this consensus statement.

Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic Viral C Hepatitis

Hepatits C virus (HCV) infection has been largely associated with extrahepatic comorbidities such as diseases related to dysregulation of the immune system, neuropsychiatric disorders, and cardiometabolic alterations. These clinical consequences, together with experimental evidence, suggest a potential (in)direct effect of HCV, contributing to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Various studies have reported a positive effect of viral eradication on occurrence and outcomes of extrahepatic diseases. These observations and the availability of safe and effective direct antiviral agents further underline the need to search for virological eradication in all infected individuals independent of the severity of the liver disease.

Viral hepatitis in patients on hemodialysis

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C (HCV) prevalence are higher in people on hemodialysis (HD) than the general population. Through implementation of prevention interventions including vaccines, serologic screening, and post-exposure management, transmissions linked to HD have decreased dramatically. In this manuscript, we review epidemiology of viral hepatitis, summarize current screening and vaccine recommendations, and appraise the available data about efforts to decrease incidence within HD facilities, including isolation of people with viral hepatitis within HD units. Also included is a discussion of the highly effective all-oral HCV treatment options and treatment for HCV in people awaiting kidney transplant.

KDOQI US Commentary on the 2018 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hepatitis C

The first KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) guideline for the prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was published in 2008. The ensuing decade bore witness to remarkable advances in the treatment of HCV infection following the approval of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents that deliver cure rates routinely >95%. In this context, the KDIGO organization correctly recognized the need for an updated HCV guideline that would be relevant to the treatment of HCV-infected patients with kidney disease in the DAA era. The current NKF-KDOQI (National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative) commentary provides an in-depth review and perspective on the 2018 KDIGO guideline. Of note, the KDIGO work group made significant updates to guideline chapters 2 and 4 as a direct result of the availability of DAAs. The intent of this commentary is to provide useful interpretation for nephrologists and other practitioners caring for HCV-infected patients with chronic kidney disease, including dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients. The availability of DAA agents that are safe and highly effective has created new opportunities, such as the transplantation of kidneys from HCV-infected kidney donors. The ability to treat HCV infection in patients with kidney disease will have a significant impact on the care of our patients and should favorably influence long-term outcomes as well.

Sustained virological response to hepatitis C therapy does not decrease the incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis

In patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), the effects of baseline characteristics, virological profiles, and therapeutic outcome to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PR) therapy on autoimmune diseases are unknown. Taiwanese Chronic Hepatitis C Cohort is a nationwide hepatitis C virus registry cohort comprising 23 hospitals of Taiwan. A total of 12,770 CHC patients receiving PR therapy for at least 4 weeks between January 2003 and December 2015 were enrolled and their data were linked to the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for studying the development of 10 autoimmune diseases. The mean follow-up duration was 5.3 ± 2.9 years with a total of 67,930 person-years, and the annual incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was 0.03%. Other autoimmune diseases were not assessable due to few events. Body mass index ≥24 kg/m2 was an independent predictor of the low incidence of SLE or RA (hazard ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.17-0.93, p = 0.034). A sustained virological response (SVR) to PR therapy was not associated with the low incidence of SLE or RA in any subgroup analysis. CHC patients achieving SVR to PR therapy did not exhibit an impact on the incidence of SLE or RA compared with non-SVR patients.

Improvement of hyperuricemia in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving directly acting antiviral agents

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Hepatitis C virus eradication via the use of antivirals ameliorates metabolic profiles. The changes in serum uric acid (SUA) levels in chronic hepatitis C patients who receive antivirals are not well understood. We aimed to address this issue by comparing the SUA changes before and after the achievement of a sustained virological response (which is defined as hepatitis C virus RNA seronegativity at 12 weeks after the end of treatment).

METHODS

Two hundred and thirteen sustained virological response patients who were treated by directly acting antivirals were consecutively enrolled. Pretreatment and post-treatment SUA levels were compared. Hyperuricemia was defined as a uric acid level > 7.0 mg/dL in men and > 6.0 mg/dL in women.

RESULTS

The SUA levels significantly decreased after treatment, as compared to the pretreatment levels (5.6 ± 1.5 vs 6.0 ± 1.7 mg/dL, respectively; P < 0.001). The proportion of hyperuricemia incidences significantly decreased after treatment (25.8% vs 35.7%, respectively; P = 0.001). The improvement was only observed in patients with a fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) < 6.5 (25.7% vs 37.1%, P = 0.001) but not in those patients with a FIB-4 ≧ 6.5 (26.3% vs 28.9%, P = 1.00). A multivariate analysis revealed that the factor that was associated with significantly decreased SUA levels was FIB-4 < 6.5 (odds ratio [OR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.22/1.04-9.95, P = 0.04) and estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR/CI: 4.34/1.94-9.73, P < 0.001). There existed a trend of a higher proportion of patients with significant SUA improvement along with the decrement of FIB-4 (29.7%, 25%, and 10.5% in patients with FIB-4 < 3.25, 3.25-6.5, and > 6.5, respectively; trend P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

SUA levels were significantly decreased in chronic hepatitis C patients after viral eradication. The improvement was particularly enhanced in patients with mild liver disease.

Validity of ICD-10-CM Codes Used to Identify Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection in Administrative Claims Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Outpatient Claims Dataset

PURPOSE

To validate the use of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes to identify patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) Outpatient Claims Dataset.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study using results of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HBV e antigen (HBeAg), and anti-HCV antibody tests in the NHI Lab & Exam Dataset from January 1 to March 31, 2018, as the reference standard to confirm HBV and HCV infection cases. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) to assess the performance of HBV infection-specific ICD-10-CM codes (B180, B181, and B191) and HCV infection-specific ICD-10-CM codes (B182 and B192) recorded in the NHI Outpatient Claims Dataset to identify patients with HBV or HCV infection.

RESULTS

In total, 196,635 and 120,628 patients had analyzable results for HBsAg/HBeAg tests and anti-HCV tests, respectively. Moreover, 44,574 and 14,443 were confirmed to have HBV and HCV infection, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were, respectively, 46%, 83%, 45%, and 84% for HBV infection-specific ICD-10-CM codes and 47%, 99%, 81%, and 93% for HCV infection-specific ICD-10-CM codes. The sensitivity demonstrated great variation by region, clinical setting, and physician specialty.

CONCLUSION

The HBV and HCV infection-specific ICD-10-CM codes recorded by physicians in Taiwan NHI outpatient claims data in 2018 had moderate sensitivity and high specificity for both HBV and HCV infection. The PPV was high for HCV ICD-10-CM codes, yet moderate for HBV ICD-10-CM codes.