Hepatitis C News

Transplantation with hepatitis C nucleic acid test-positive kidneys in HCV-negative recipients followed by direct-acting antiviral therapy demonstrated improved patient outcomes and significant cost-savings, according to results of a recent modelling study.

Modelling results from a recent study showed that transplantation of hepatitis C-positive livers into uninfected patients with preemptive direct-acting antiviral therapy was a cost-effective strategy and could improve health outcomes, especially in those with higher MELD scores.

Results of a modeling study showed that in dense urban settings with high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs, HCV treatment-as-prevention strategies will have little impact over 10 years unless coverage is greatly expanded.

Results of a recent mortality profile of New York City residents with hepatitis C and hepatitis B showed that patients with HCV were significantly more likely to have HIV coinfection, hepatocellular carcinoma, and lower survival rates compared with HBV.

Population-level hepatitis C reinfection rates after direct-acting antiviral therapy were elevated among people who inject drugs due to ongoing exposure risk, according to a recently published study.

Influences that affect liver transplantation outcomes comprise numerous hepatic and extrahepatic factors, including hepatitis C infection. Patients with HCV are at risk for progression to liver damage and cirrhosis, which can affect the rate of waitlist mortality. In recent years, the introduction of direct-acting antivirals and improved management of cirrhosis have led to better outcomes post-liver transplant.

In reading this month’s cover story, one can see that the cost/charge structure for biologic drugs in our country appears to involve a Byzantine system of agents and middlemen that I think can only be described as ‘bug-nutty.’ Who would design anything this way?

Liver disease researchers recently published internally validated models that estimated the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma following direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C based on the presence of cirrhosis and sustained virologic response outcome.

Direct-acting antivirals present not only a highly successful therapy for treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C but also a curative option for patients who could not undergo treatment with interferon-based regimens or failed prior treatment courses.

Outcome Health announced a partnership with the American Liver Foundation to launch a nationwide campaign to promote the recently updated hepatitis C screening recommendations and raise awareness of liver disease, according to a press release.