Hepatitis C News

Viral hepatitis refers to several types of inflammatory liver infections that can lead to serious complications like fibrosis or cirrhosis. While some types of hepatitis may be prevented with vaccination and others can clear spontaneously, many patients remain unaware of the risks for infection or their current infection status.

The direct-acting antiviral era has seen a significant increase in the number of patients with hepatitis C clearing their infection. Along with this, public awareness of the disease and its highly effective cure has increased. However, many barriers still exist to finding all patients with HCV to achieve the WHO’s goal of global elimination.

Results of a survey of liver patient groups from 25 European countries showed that a minority of European prisons provide adequate infectious disease prevention, such as harm reduction programs and hepatitis C screening.

Interferon-experienced patients with hepatitis C who achieved sustained virologic response with direct-acting antivirals were more likely to have a higher baseline expression of interferon-stimulated genes compared with those who experienced a virologic breakthrough, according to a recently published study.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have designated May as Hepatitis Awareness Month to raise public awareness of viral hepatitis including the most common strains: hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Additionally, the CDC designated May 19th as Hepatitis Testing Day.

Although sustained virologic response after antiviral therapy for hepatitis C reduces the risks for several extrahepatic manifestations, researchers found that early initiation of treatment may be required to reduce the risk for glomerulonephritis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and stroke.

Researchers using liver stiffness measurement found significant and comparable prevalence of advanced fibrosis between patients with chronic hepatitis C recruited from primary care practices and those recruited from a hospital cohort, according to a recently published study.

Results of a recent study showed that sustained virologic response after treatment with direct-acting antivirals correlated with an increased control of vasculitic manifestations in patients with hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, although some patients may relapse.

Results of a recent systematic review and meta-analysis showed that sustained virologic response after hepatitis C therapy can reduce extrahepatic manifestations including insulin resistance and cardiovascular risks.

Patients with hepatitis C genotype 4 had high sustained virologic response rates with Harvoni over 8 weeks in treatment-naive cases without cirrhosis and over 12 weeks with ribavirin regardless of cirrhosis or treatment experience, according to recently published data from a phase 3 study in Egypt.