Hepatitis C News

Management of hepatitis C virus infection has drastically changed over the past 20 years — and even more so in the past 10 years — as a direct result of the evolution of pharmacologic therapy. HCV was discovered in 1989, and nearly 10 years later, in 1997, interferon was FDA approved as the first HCV treatment option. Unfortunately, interferon use was limited by inadequate rates of SVR and side effects. Standard of care shifted after the introduction of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, which overcame some of the pitfalls of interferon.

Cost, insurance and apprehension of side effects were the leading barriers to hepatitis C treatment, according to results from a recent survey of individuals either cured or not cured of HCV.

Patients treated for hepatitis C who achieved sustained virologic response recovered platelet counts, according to recently published data. Hepatitis B coinfection, however, disrupted platelet count recovery, especially in patients with advanced liver disease from chronic HCV.

Treatment with Mavyret for 12 weeks resulted in high rates of sustained virologic response among patients with hepatitis C and stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease, according to a recently published study.

Patients with chronic liver disease, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease and chronic hepatitis C, had significantly longer hospital length of stay, annual health care charges and shorter hospice length of stay compared with other patients, according to recently published data.

Most patients who received an offer for hepatitis C screening during outpatient endoscopy accepted and completed the test the same day or same week, according to recently published results.

Patients with hepatitis C and Child-Pugh A cirrhosis had similar rates of treatment-related adverse events and lower rates of hepatic decompensation after treatment with Viekira Pak compared with untreated patients, according to recently published data. However, those with a history of advanced cirrhosis were more likely to experience treatment-related adverse events.

The AASLD and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have updated their guidelines and resources for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, according to a press release.

At the recent International Symposium on Hepatitis Care in Substance Users, researchers presented new data on injection drug users and their unique risk factors for hepatitis C infection and transmission, including younger age, and the critical need for HCV education among addiction clinic workers.

Hepatitis C testing among baby boomers increased more than 50% in New York, following the implementation of a testing law in 2014 that required health care providers to offer HCV screening to all patients born between 1945 to 1965, according to a report from the CDC.