Factors associated with success of telaprevir- and boceprevir-based triple therapy for hepatitis C virus infection.

AIM: To evaluate new therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV), data about real-world outcomes are needed. METHODS: Outcomes of 223 patients with genotype 1 HCV who started telaprevir- or boceprevir-based triple therapy (May 2011-March 2012) at the Mount Sinai Medical Center were analyzed. Human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients and patients who received a liver transplant were excluded. Factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR24) and relapse were analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression as well as classification and regression trees. Fast virological response (FVR) was defined as undetectable HCV RNA at week-4 (telaprevir) or week-8 (boceprevir). RESULTS: The median age was 57 years, 18% were black, 44% had advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis (FIB-4 ≥ 3.25). Only 42% (94/223) of patients achieved SVR24 on an intention-to-treat basis. In a model that included platelets, SVR24 was associated with white race [odds ratio (OR) = 5.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.34-14.96], HCV sub-genotype 1b (OR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.45-5.44), platelet count (OR = 1.10, per x 104 cells/µL, 95%CI: 1.05-1.16), and IL28B CC genotype (OR = 3.54, 95%CI: 1.19-10.53). Platelet counts > 135 x 103/µL were the strongest predictor of SVR by classification and regression tree. Relapse occurred in 25% (27/104) of patients with an end-of-treatment response and was associated with non-FVR (OR = 4.77, 95%CI: 1.68-13.56), HCV sub-genotype 1a (OR = 5.20; 95%CI: 1.40-18.97), and FIB-4 ≥ 3.25 (OR = 2.77; 95%CI: 1.07-7.22). CONCLUSION: The SVR rate was 42% with telaprevir- or boceprevir-based triple therapy in real-world practice. Low platelets and advanced fibrosis were associated with treatment failure and relapse.

Hepatic decompensation/serious adverse events in post-liver transplantation recipients on sofosbuvir for recurrent hepatitis C virus.

AIM: To determine the safety profile of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments in liver transplant (LT) recipients with recurrent HCV infection. METHODS: Forty-two patients were identified with recurrent HCV infection that underwent LT at least 12 mo prior to initiating treatment with a Sofosbuvir-based regimen during December 2013-June 2014. Cases were patients who experienced hepatic decompensation and/or serious adverse events (SAE) during or within one month of completing treatment. Controls had no evidence of hepatic decompensation and/or SAE. HIV-infected patients were excluded. Cumulative incidence of decompensation/SAE was calculated using the Kaplan Meier method. Exact logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the composite outcome. RESULTS: Median age of the 42 patients was 60 years [Interquartile Range (IQR): 56-65 years], 33% (14/42) were female, 21% (9/42) were Hispanic, and 9% (4/42) were Black. The median time from transplant to treatment initiation was 5.4 years (IQR: 2.1-8.8 years). Thirteen patients experienced one or more episodes of hepatic decompensation and/or SAE. Anemia requiring transfusion, the most common event, occurred in 62% (8/13) patients, while 54% (7/13) decompensated. The cumulative incidence of hepatic decompensation/SAE was 31% (95%CI: 16%-41%). Risk factors for decompensation/SAE included lower pre-treatment hemoglobin (OR = 0.61 per g/dL, 95%CI: 0.40-0.88, P < 0.01), estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR = 0.95 per mL/min per 1.73 m(2), 95%CI: 0.90-0.99, P = 0.01), and higher baseline serum total bilirubin (OR = 2.43 per mg/dL, 95%CI: 1.17-8.65, P < 0.01). The sustained virological response rate for the cohort of 42 patients was 45%, while it was 31% for cases. CONCLUSION: Sofosbuvir/ribavirin will continue to be used in the post-transplant population, including those with HCV genotypes 2 and 3. Management of anemia remains an important clinical challenge.

Utility of the low-accelerating-dose regimen in 182 liver recipients with recurrent hepatitis C virus.

AIM: To describe our experience using a low-accelerating-dose regimen (LADR) with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. METHODS: From 2003, a protocolized LADR strategy was employed to treat liver transplant (LT) recipients with recurrent HCV at our institution. Medical records of 182 adult patients with recurrent HCV treated with LADR between 1/2003 and 1/2011 were reviewed. Histopathology from all post-LT liver biopsies were reviewed in a blinded fashion. Paired recipient and donor IL28B status were assessed. A novel technique was employed to ascertain recipient and donor IL28B (rs12979860) Gt data using DNA extracted from archival FFPE tissue from explanted native livers and donor gallbladders respectively. The primary endpoint was SVR; secondary endpoints examined include (1) patient and graft survival; (2) effect of anti-viral therapy on liver histology (fibrosis and inflammation); (3) incidence of on-treatment development of ACR, CDR, or PCH; (4) association of recipient and donor IL28B genotype with SVR; and (5) incidence of anti-viral therapy-associated adverse events (anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, depression) and hepatic decompensation. RESULTS: The overall SVR rate was 38% (29% Gt1, 67% Gt2, 86% Gt3 and 58% Gt4). HCV Gt (P < 0.0001), donor age (P = 0.003), cytomegalovirus mismatch (P = 0.001), baseline serum bilirubin (P = 0.002), and baseline viral load (P = 0.04) were independent predictors for SVR. SVR rates were significantly higher in the recipient-CC/donor-non CC pairs (P = 0.007). Neither baseline fibrosis nor change in fibrosis stage after anti-viral therapy were associated with SVR. Fibrosis progressed in 72% of patients despite SVR. Median graft survival was 91 mo. Five-year patient survival was superior in patients who achieved SVR (97% vs 82%, P = 0.001). Pre-treatment ALP ≥ 150 U/L (P = 0.01), total bilirubin ≥ 1.5 mg/dL (P = 0.001) and creatinine ≥ 2 mg/dL (P = 0.001) were independently associated with patient survival. Only 13% of patients achieving SVR died during the follow-up period. Treatment discontinuation and treatment-related mortality occurred in 35% and 2.2% of patients, respectively. EPO, G-CSF and blood transfusion were needed in 89%, 40% and 23% of patients, respectively. Overall hospitalization rate for treatment-related serious adverse events was 21%. Forty-six (25%) of the patients were deceased; among those who died, 25 (54%) were due to liver-related complications, and 4 deaths (9%) occurred while receiving therapy (2 patients experienced hepatic decompensation and 2 sepsis). CONCLUSION: LADR strategy remains relevant in managing post-LT recurrent HCV where access to DAAs is limited. SVR is associated with improved survival, but fibrosis progression still occurs.

Costs of telaprevir-based triple therapy for hepatitis C: $189,000 per sustained virological response.

UNLABELLED: In registration trials, triple therapy with telaprevir (TVR), pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN), and ribavirin (RBV) achieved sustained virological response (SVR) rates between 64% and 75%, but the clinical effectiveness and economic burdens of this treatment in real-world practice remain to be determined. Records of 147 patients who initiated TVR-based triple therapy at the Mount Sinai Medical Center (May-December 2011) were reviewed. Direct medical costs for pretreatment, on-treatment, and posttreatment care were calculated using data from Medicare reimbursement databases, RED Book, and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database. Costs are presented in 2012 U.S. dollars. SVR (undetectable hepatitis C virus [HCV] RNA 24 weeks after the end of treatment) was determined on an intention-to-treat basis. Cost per SVR was calculated by dividing the median cost by the SVR rate. Median age of the 147 patients was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 51-61), 68% were male, 19% were black, 11% had human immunodeficiency virus/HCV coinfection, 36% had advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis (FIB-4 scores ≥3.25), and 44% achieved an SVR. The total cost of care was $11.56 million. Median cost of care was $83,721 per patient (IQR = $66,652-$98,102). The median cost per SVR was $189,338 (IQR = $150,735-$221,860). Total costs were TVR (61%), IFN (24%), RBV (4%), adverse event management (8%), professional fees (2%), and laboratory tests (1%). CONCLUSIONS: TVR and Peg-IFN accounted for 85% of costs. Pharmaceutical prices and the low (44%) SVR rate, in this real-world study, were major contributors to the high cost per SVR.

Telaprevir-induced DRESS.

Telaprevir, a protease inhibitor, was recently approved for management of Chronic Hepatits C (CHC) due to HCV genotype 1. Various RCTs have demonstarted increased incidence of cutaneous adverse effects with use of Telaprevir. Herein, we report two cases of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) secondary to Telaprevir use.

Serum and ascites chromogranin-A in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors.

OBJECTIVES: Ascites secondary to neuroendocrine tumor metastases may arise from a variety of mechanisms. Our aim was to measure serum and ascitic chromogranin-A (CgA) to help determine whether ascites resulted from intraperitoneal/retroperitoneal disease burden or from other carcinoid complications such as congestive heart failure or portal hypertension. METHODS: Patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors and ascites were identified. Chromogranin-A was obtained and measured from both serum and ascites. The causes of carcinoid ascites was categorized into 2 groups: high intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal disease burden (ie, peritoneal metastases and/or lymphatic obstruction; n = 12, group 1) or other organ-specific carcinoid complications such as CHF or portal hypertension (n = 12, group 2). RESULTS: An ascites CgA/serum CgA ratio greater than 1 was more likely to be found in group 1 (P = 0.01). This ratio produced 100% sensitivity and 75% specificity for ascites secondary to peritoneal metastases and/or lymphatic obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: An ascites CgA/serum CgA ratio greater than 1 produces excellent accuracy in predicting peritoneal metastases and/or retroperitoneal disease as the cause of ascites in the setting of metastatic carcinoid. This test may play a role in the earlier identification of those patients who may be well served by aggressive management.

Cross-genotypic polyclonal anti-HCV antibodies from human ascitic fluid.

Many anti-HCV antibodies are available, but more are needed for research and clinical applications. This study examines whether ascitic fluid from cirrhotic patients could be a source of reagent-grade antibodies. Ascitic fluid from 29 HCV patients was screened by ELISA for anti-HCV antibodies against three viral proteins: core, NS4B, and NS5A. Significant patient-to-patient variability in anti-HCV antibody titers was observed. Total ascitic fluid IgG purified by Protein-A chromatography reacted with HCV proteins in immunoblots, cell extracts, and replicon-expressing cells. Affinity-purification using synthetic peptides as bait allowed the preparation of cross-genotypic antibodies directed against pre-selected regions of HCV core, NS4B, and NS5A proteins. The performance of the polyclonal antibodies was comparable to that of monoclonal antibodies. Anti-NS4B antibody preparations reacted with genotype 1a, 1b, and 2a NS4B proteins in immunoblots and allowed NS4B to be localized in replicon-expressing cells. Ascitic fluid is an abundant source of human polyclonal cross-genotypic antibodies that can be used as an alternative to blood. This study shows the utility of selectively purifying human polyclonal antibodies from ascitic fluid. Affinity purification allows antibodies to be selected that are comparable to monoclonal antibodies in their ability to react with targeted regions of viral proteins.

An escalating dose regimen of pegylated interferon and ribavirin in HCV cirrhotic patients referred for liver transplant.

BACKGROUND: To lessen the severity of recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) postliver transplantation (post-LT) by treating HCV patients with cirrhosis, we assessed the safety and efficacy of an escalating dose pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin protocol in pre-LT patients. METHODS: Ninety patients were treated with 90 microg PEG-IFN alpha-2a and 400 mg ribavirin and advanced to 180 microg and 800 to 1200 mg, respectively, over 8 weeks. RESULTS: Mean age was 55.3 years. Thirty-four percent of patients received prior interferon treatment, 77% had genotype 1 or 4. Mean Child's score was 6.7 and model for end-stage liver disease 11.2; 49% reached full-dose PEG-IFN and 85% ribavirin, 18% required dose reduction, 33% stopped treatment because of adverse effects, 9% had deterioration of liver function, and 7% died. Follow-up of 9.6 months showed sustained virological response in 13% of patients. The rate of serious complications was 16.3% in Child's class A, 48% in B, and 100% in C (P=0.005). Serum albumin was a significant predictor for worsening liver function (P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Using an escalating dose regimen of PEG-IFN alpha-2a and ribavirin, we achieved only a 13% sustained virological response in HCV cirrhotic pre-LT patients with an accompanying 9% risk of worsening liver function and 7% risk of death.