Chronic Hepatitis C Cascade of Care in Prisoners-Is There Still Some Work to Do? Analysis of Two Large Penitentiaries in Northern Italy.

Penitentiaries have a higher burden of communicable diseases compared to the general population. Prisoners should be tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and have direct access to treatment. We analysed the HCV cascade of care in two penitentiaries in Brescia, Northern Italy. At admission, prisoners are offered a voluntary screening for HCV, while patients with known infections are tested with an HCVRNA measurement. We performed an observational retrospective study including all the subjects admitted to the penitentiaries from 1 January 2015 to 31 October 2021. We conducted a descriptive analysis. During the study period, 5378 admissions were registered, and 2932 (54.5%) screenings were performed. Hepatitis C virus antibody positivity was found in 269 tests (9.2%). Hepatitis C virus RNA was detectable in 169 people. During the study period, 77 treatments with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were administered. Follow-up was available in 45 patients, and sustained virological response (SVR) was documented in 44 of them. Retention in care occurred in less than half of the prisoners after release. Our data demonstrate poor screening adherence that could benefit from educational programs. Treatment rates could be improved with test-and-treat programs. More efforts are needed to eliminate HCV as a public threat by 2030. Dedicated local networks, including infectious diseases (ID) departments, substance abuse services and prisons, could mitigate these issues.

Case report: An occult hepatitis B virus infection reactivation in an HIV/HCV coinfected patient during an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

The natural history of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) and the mechanism involved in HBV reactivation are only partially understood. As regards people living with HIV (PLWH), HBV reactivation is estimated to occur with an incidence ratio of 0.019 cases per 100 person-year. Here we report the case of OBI reactivation in a HIV/HCV co-infected patient followed for 25 years at our Infectious Diseases Unit, but, unfortunately, lost to follow-up about 19 months after Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment. At re-engagement, blood tests showed high replication of plasmatic HIV-RNA along with severe immunosuppression and normal levels of liver enzymes. However, 3 months after ART reintroduction, an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) was diagnosed with high detectable HBV-DNA load and transaminase elevation. Our case report shows how the balance between the virus and the host immune system is quite a dynamic process that might significantly impact the course of the disease. The aim of this case report is to bring to the attention of physicians that, although OBI reactivation is a rather rare occurrence, even amongst PLWH, its potential consequences compel to a high alertness on the matter. Therefore, especially in patients with an impaired immune system and on a tenofovir or lamivudine-sparing regimen, HBV serological and virological markers should always be strictly monitored, even in the absence of a hepatitis flare.

DAA Treatment Failure in a HIV/HBV/HCV Co-Infected Patient Carrying a Chimeric HCV Genotype 4/1b.

Approved direct antiviral agent (DAA) combinations are associated with high rates of sustained virological response (SVR) and the absence of a detectable hepatitis C viral load 12-24 weeks after treatment discontinuation. However, a low percentage of individuals fail DAA therapy. Here, we report the case of a HIV/HBV/HCV co-infected patient who failed to respond to DAA pangenotypic combination therapy. The sequencing of NS5a, NS5b, NS3 and core regions evidenced a recombinant intergenotypic strain 4/1b with a recombination crossover point located inside the NS3 region. The identification of this natural recombinant virus underlines the concept that HCV recombination, even if it occurs rarely, may play a key role in the virus fitness and evolution.

Renal safety in 3264 HCV patients treated with DAA-based regimens: Results from a large Italian real-life study.

BACKGROUND: Sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens have been associated with renal function worsening in HCV patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤ 45 ml/min, but further investigations are lacking. AIM: To assess renal safety in a large cohort of DAA-treated HCV patients with any chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: All HCV patients treated with DAA in Lombardy (December 2014-November 2017) with available kidney function tests during and off-treatment were included. RESULTS: Among 3264 patients [65% males, 67% cirrhotics, eGFR 88 (9-264) ml/min], CKD stage was 3 in 9.5% and 4/5 in 0.7%. 79% and 73% patients received SOF and RBV, respectively. During DAA, eGFR declined in CKD-1 (p < 0.0001) and CKD-2 (p = 0.0002) patients, with corresponding rates of CKD stage reduction of 25% and 8%. Conversely, eGFR improved in lower CKD stages (p < 0.0001 in CKD-3a, p = 0.0007 in CKD-3b, p = 0.024 in CKD-4/5), with 33-45% rates of CKD improvement. Changes in eGFR and CKD distribution persisted at SVR. Baseline independent predictors of CKD worsening at EOT and SVR were age (p < 0.0001), higher baseline CKD stages (p < 0.0001) and AH (p = 0.010 and p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: During DAA, eGFR significantly declined in patients with preserved renal function and improved in those with lower CKD stages, without reverting upon drug discontinuation.

Effectiveness and safety of switching to entecavir hepatitis B patients developing kidney dysfunction during tenofovir.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is recommended for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment, but it may induce kidney dysfunction whose management is not yet known. This Italian, multicentre, retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of switching to entecavir (ETV) patients who developed TDF-associated glomerular and/or tubular dysfunction. METHODS: A total of 103 TDF-treated patients were included as follows: age 64 years, 83% male, 49% cirrhotics, 98% with undetectable HBV DNA, 47% with previous lamivudine resistance (LMV-R) and 71% previously treated with adefovir. Twenty-nine (28%) were switched to ETV because estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRMDRD ) was <60 mL/min, 37 (36%) because blood phosphate (P) levels were <2.5 mg/dL and 37 (36%) for both reasons. Kidney, liver and virological parameters were recorded every 4 months thereafter. RESULTS: During 46 (4-115) months of ETV treatment, all patients' renal parameters significantly improved as follows: creatinine from 1.30 to 1.10 mg/dL (P < 0.0001), eGFRMDRD from 54 to 65 mL/min (P = 0.002), P from 2.2 to 2.6 mg/dL (P < 0.0001) and maximal tubule phosphate reabsorption (TmPO4/eGFR) from 0.47 to 0.62 mmol/L (P < 0.0001). Thirteen patients (52%) improved their eGFRMDRD class, P levels were normalised in 13 (35%), and eight (22%) showed improvements in both parameters. Viral suppression was maintained in all but five patients (5%), all of whom had been LMV-R. The 5-year cumulative probability of ETV-R was 0% in LMV-naïve patients, and 11% in LMV-R patients (P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir is an effective and safe rescue strategy for CHB patients who develop renal dysfunction during long-term TDF treatment.

Lymphoproliferative disease with mixed cryoglobulinemia and hyperviscosity syndrome in an HIV-infected patient: HCV is the only culprit.

The availability of direct antiviral agents (DAAs) offers the possibility to treat HCV-infected patients with a high rate of efficacy and a good safety profile. Little is known about the benefit of DAAs on HCV-related hematological diseases and their complications. We describe the case of an HIV/HCV-infected patient with HCV-related chronic lymphoproliferative disease, mixed cryoglobulinemia and hyperviscosity syndrome. Treatment with direct antiviral agents (DAAs) cured HCV infection and its complications, while HCV re-infection caused recrudescence of the associated diseases.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation after effective sofosbuvir and ribavirin treatment in a patient with occult hepatitis B virus infection.

Reactivation of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been reported in patients with occult infection (OBI), i.e. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) positive ± antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) and detectable HBV DNA in serum or liver, receiving immunosuppressive or cytotoxic therapies. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the risk of HBV reactivation in OBI patients treated with direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Here we describe a case of HBV reactivation in a 72-year-old woman with OBI as a possible consequence of effective treatment with sofosbuvir (SOF) and ribavirin (Rbv) for genotype 2a/2c CHC.

[Biliary and kidney lithiasis during treatment with daclatasvir/sofosbuvir/ribavirin and atazanavir/ritonavir + abacavir/lamivudine in an HIV/HCV genotype 4-infected patient: a case report.] / Litiasi biliare e renale in paziente con coinfezione HIV e HCV genotipo 4 in corso di terapia con daclatasvir/sofosbuvir + ribavirina e atazanavir/ritonavir + abacavir/lamivudina: caso clinico.

New Direct-acting Antiviral Agents (DAA)-based anti-HCV therapies currently provide extraordinary opportunities to cure patients. Drug-drug interactions are however a real challenge during treatment. In particular, in HIV-infected patients in cART, DAA choice is limited by such interactions, which can result both in reduced efficacy and toxicity. We report the case of a HIV-infected patient on cART with atazanavir/ritonavir/abacavir/lamivudine, who presented kidney and biliary lithiasis, the latter treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy, after beginning anti-HCV treatment with daclatasvir/sofosbuvir/ribavirin. Hyperbilirubinemia with or without jaundice is a well known side effect of atazanavir, because of its inhibition of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase. We speculate that in this case hyperbilirubinemia worsening was due to atazanavir/ribavirin co-administration. However, pharmacokinetic data are lacking about atazanavir/daclatasvir concomitant administration in real life setting.

Clinical course of chronic hepatitis B patients receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues after virological breakthrough during monotherapy with lamivudine.

Little is known about the optimal management of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who develop drug resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of different drug regimens in chronically HBV-infected patients. HBV viral load was determined using a bDNA assay and the substitutions in HBV-DNA were studied by polymerase sequencing test. The study involved 38 patients who experienced a therapeutic failure to lamivudine (LAM). The sequential treatments used were: LAM + adefovir (ADV), LAM + tenofovir (TDF), entecavir (ETV) monotherapy, ADV monotherapy and TDF monotherapy. Similar activity against HBV replication was observed with all drug regimens. Of the patients treated with LAM, 44% developed resistance mutations. The rt M204I mutation was observed more frequently. Sequential ADV add-on LAM and TDF therapy induced the appearance of resistance in 3/18 (16.6%) and in 1/8 (5.5%) treated patients, respectively. Genotype D was the most prevalent (78.9%), followed by genotype A (13%), genotype E (5.2%) and genotype C (2.6%). Our study showed that baseline serum HBV DNA is an important predictor of virologic response and that virologic breakthrough is significantly associated with the insurgence of genotypic resistance.

Daclatasvir plus peginterferon and ribavirin is noninferior to peginterferon and ribavirin alone, and reduces the duration of treatment for HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Twenty-four weeks of treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 infection produces a sustained virologic response (SVR) in 70%-80% of patients. We performed a randomized, double-blind, phase 2b study to assess whether adding daclatasvir, a nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitor that is active against these genotypes, improves efficacy and shortens therapy. METHODS: Patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection (n = 151), enrolled at research centers in North America, Europe, or Australia, were assigned randomly to groups given 12 or 16 weeks of daclatasvir (60 mg once daily), or 24 weeks of placebo, each combined with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. Treatment was extended to 24 weeks for recipients of daclatasvir who did not meet the criteria for early virologic response. The primary end point was SVR at 24 weeks after treatment (SVR24). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar among patients within each HCV genotype group. However, the 80 patients with HCV genotype 3, compared with the 71 patients with HCV genotype 2, were younger (mean age, 45 vs 53 y, respectively), and a larger proportion had cirrhosis (23% vs 1%, respectively). Among patients with HCV genotype 2 infection, an SVR24 was achieved by 83%, 83%, and 63% of those in the daclatasvir 12-week group, the daclatasvir 16-week group, or the placebo group, respectively; among patients with HCV genotype 3 infection, an SVR24 was achieved by 69%, 67%, and 59% of patients in these groups, respectively. Differences between genotypes largely were attributable to the higher frequency of post-treatment relapse among patients infected with HCV genotype 3. In both daclatasvir arms for both HCV genotypes, the lower bound of the 80% confidence interval of the difference in SVR24 rates between the daclatasvir and placebo arms was above -20%, establishing noninferiority. Safety findings were similar among groups, and were typical of those expected from peginterferon alfa and ribavirin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Twelve or 16 weeks of treatment with daclatasvir, in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin, is a well tolerated and effective therapy for patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 infections. Daclatasvir-containing regimens could reduce the duration of therapy for these patients. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT01257204.

Tenofovir-induced Fanconi syndrome in chronic hepatitis B monoinfected patients that reverted after tenofovir withdrawal.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor widely used to treat patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Despite the excellent safety records of this regimen, a few cases of acute renal failure and Fanconi syndrome have been reported among HIV patients exposed to TDF. In the HBV monoinfection scenario, only two cases of TDF-associated Fanconi syndrome have been reported thus far. Here, we describe two additional patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who developed a TDF-induced Fanconi syndrome that reverted after TDF withdrawal and had viral replication fully suppressed upon switching to entecavir (ETV). Though the overall risk of TDF associated severe renal toxicity in HBV patients appears to be negligible, both glomerular and tubular function should be monitored in patients exposed to TDF, especially when other renal risk factors or a history of previous exposure to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) are present.

Evidence of long-term suppression of hepatitis B virus DNA by tenofovir as rescue treatment in patients coinfected by HIV.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of long-term hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment with tenofovir (TDF) in relation to lamivudine (LMV) resistance in HIV patients failing on LMV deserves further investigations. METHODS: HIV-HBV coinfected patients were selected, provided that LMV was included in the first highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen and TDF was subsequently introduced. RESULTS: Forty HIV-HBV patients were included, 25 had undetectable HBV DNA on LMV and 15 were failing on LMV treatment. Three cases of triple 173V + 180M + 204V HBV reverse transcriptase (rt) mutants were identified, as well as several mutations or polymorphisms in the surface antigen gene at positions possibly correlating with vaccine escape. A new mutation (rtl233V) was found in one adefovir-naive patient. In 10 patients, uninterrupted TDF treatment led to a sustained treatment response for a median of 160 (interquartile range 111-189) weeks. Two patients underwent intermittent treatment with TDF and LMV, responding any time TDF was reintroduced. In one patient, TDF without LMV provided treatment response. One patient did not respond to TDF because of low treatment adherence. One patient infected with the triple rt mutant did not respond to entecavir, but TDF was successful as rescue. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with TDF was effective against HBV mutant viruses resistant to LMV and provided sustained control of HBV replication over long-term follow-up, even after entecavir failure. Moreover, suppression of HBV vaccine escape variants could provide important benefits from a public health perspective.

A randomized, controlled trial of triple antiviral therapy as initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C induces a low response rate in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. To assess the impact of intensification of interferon administration and of the addition of amantadine on the efficacy and safety of standard anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in HIV-infected patients. METHODS: Multicentre, prospective, open-label, randomized, phase III clinical trial. Eighty co-infected patients were randomized to receive ribavirin 800-1,000 mg/day in combination with, group A: interferon alpha 2a 3MIU thrice weekly; group B: IFN alpha 2a 3MIU daily, plus amantadine 200 mg/day; treatment duration was 24-48 weeks according to HCV genotype. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were randomized in group A and 39 in group B. Intention-to-treat analysis showed a sustained virological response, defined as HCV-RNA negativization, 6 months after stopping treatment in 22% of patients from group A and 13% from group B (P>0.05). The lack of a 2-log drop in HCV-RNA levels after 12 weeks of treatment showed a 100% predictive value of lack of sustained response. CONCLUSIONS: Amantadine addition and interferon intensification do not improve the low efficacy of combination of interferon alfa plus ribavirin in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. Patients with no early virologic response did not have any probability of sustained response.

Severe hepatotoxicity during combination antiretroviral treatment: incidence, liver histology, and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess incidence, risk factors, histology, and outcome of severe hepatotoxicity (SH) during antiretroviral treatment (ART). METHODS: Seven hundred fifty-five HIV-seropositive patients consecutively prescribed new ART were selected. Liver function tests were assessed at baseline, after 1 month, and every 4 months thereafter. Liver biopsy was recommended in case of SH (i.e., increase in liver enzymes >/=10 times the upper limit of normal or 5 times baseline if markedly abnormal). RESULTS: Twenty-six cases of SH were observed with an incidence of 4.2% person-years. Liver failure (LF) was rarely seen (1.1 per 100 person-years). Liver damage was invariably observed in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Liver histology showed exacerbation of viral hepatitis in all 16 patients for whom a liver biopsy was available at the time of SH. A direct correlation was found between alanine aminotransferase increase and increase in CD4 T-cell count in patients with SH (r = 0.53, p <.001). Death occurred during follow-up in 7 of 26 (27%) patients, all of whom showed LF and baseline CD4+ count less than 200 cells/mm(3) (7/7 patients = 100% vs. 8/19 patients without LF; p <.01). Relapse of SH was observed after ART was recommenced in 7 of 17 (41%) patients. Five of these 7 patients did not show further SH relapse after treatment with interferon. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides estimates of SH and LF in a large population-based setting where hepatitis C virus coinfection is highly prevalent and provides indications that liver damage may be caused by immune reconstitution and related exacerbation of viral hepatitis. A strict follow-up for hepatotoxicity is mandatory when ART is initiated in patients with <200 CD4+ T cells/mm(3). Antihepatitis pre- or comedication could be an effective preventive or curative measure.

Histological and virological features and follow-up of hepatitis C virus carriers with normal aminotransferase levels: the Italian prospective study of the asymptomatic C carriers (ISACC).

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate demographic characteristics, liver histology and virological features of hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. METHODS: A nationwide prospective study was started in 1997. Four Italian centres have participated in this study. RESULTS: Eight hundred and eighty subjects entered the study. One hundred and eighty-nine (21.5%) were excluded during the follow-up because of ALT increase. Among the 691 patients with persistent ALT normality, 72% were females. An overall prevalence of genotype 2 was found (52%). Normal liver was found in 17% of the patients; 34% had minimal chronic hepatitis, 44% mild hepatitis, 4% moderate to severe hepatitis, and 1% had cirrhosis. Clinical and virological features did not differ between subjects with ALT flares and those with persistently normal ALT. Baseline ALT levels have no effects on liver histology and clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Many HCV carriers have significant chronic liver damage, although in the majority of them liver lesions are minimal or mild. Up to 60% of HCV carriers in Italy harbour non-1 HCV types. Current definition of HCV carriers with persistently normal ALT levels, based upon three normal ALT values over a 6-month period, is not adequate to discriminate between carriers with persistent ALT normality and those with transient biochemical remission. Longer follow-ups are needed.