Top HCV studies presented at ICAAC

Healio.com/Hepatology has compiled a list of the latest, most relevant research on hepatitis C virus infection presented recently at ICAAC 2014 in Washington, D.C.

PEARL-II, III: High SVR rates met in HCV genotype 1b patients

A majority of patients with hepatitis C virus infection genotype 1b achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks during treatment with a three direct-acting antiviral regimen with or without ribavirin.

“Ninety-nine percent of treatment-naive and treatment-experienced HCV genotype 1b-infected patients without cirrhosis receiving the 3D regimen with or without ribavirin achieved an SVR12,” David E. Bernstein, MD, chief of hepatology at Hofstra North Shore-Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, said at the meeting. Read more

David E. Bernstein

Hospitalization rates increased for patients with HCV, diabetes

An epidemiologic study based on a retrospective survey of data from the National Spanish System for Hospital Data between 1997 and 2010 was performed to determine the number of people hospitalized with hepatitis C virus and diabetes. Researchers said the number of patients hospitalized and coinfected with HCV and diabetes in Spain increased during a 14-year period.

“The development of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines directed toward the control of glycemia and the reduction of insulin resistance in HCV-positive patients may help to reduce the hospital burden of the disease,” the researchers wrote. Read more

SAPPHIRE-I, II trials demonstrated few serious AE in HCV

Patients with hepatitis C virus infection genotype 1 included in the SAPPHIRE-I and II phase 3 clinical trials experienced a low rate of study drug-related serious adverse events and study drug discontinuations during treatment with direct-acting antivirals and ribavirin. Researchers randomly assigned 1,025 patients to a three direct-acting antiviral regimen of ABT-450/ritonavir, ombitasvir and dasabuvir plus ribavirin or matching placebos for 12 weeks.

“AbbVie’s three DAA plus RBV regimen was generally well-tolerated by the selected patient population,” Tolga Baykal, MD, of AbbVie, told Healio.com/Hepatology. Read more

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Swiss MSM had vague awareness of HCV treatments, modes of transmission

Men who have sex with men in Switzerland had little knowledge of hepatitis C virus infection and how it is transmitted.

Matthias Cavassini

“This study showed that more than 50% of the MSM participants lack basic knowledge of HCV,” Matthias Cavassini, MD, of the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, said during his presentation. “The low seroprevalence in our sample suggests that HCV should not be screened on a routine basis. Against this, the high percentage of [unprotected anal intercourse] suggests that screening should be offered in this uninformed population. Looking at the high-risk behavior, we should consider being proactive in screening also our HIV-negative MSM population and inform them about this infection along with the other sexually transmitted infections.” Read more

SAPPHIRE-I, II: Treatment sustained despite hyperbilirubinemia in some HCV patients

Elevated bilirubin levels were detected in some patients with hepatitis C virus assigned three direct-acting antivirals plus ribavirin, but none discontinued treatment.

“It is my interpretation that the transient hyperbilirubinemia associated with this treatment is likely due to mild hemolysis from ribavirin coupled with inhibition of hepatic transporters by the antiviral combination,” Gregory T. Everson, MD, of the University of Colorado in Denver, told Healio.com/Hepatology. “In the studied cohorts, it does not seem to reflect liver damage.” Read more

Gregory T. Everson

Efficacy of triple therapy varied among Israeli patients with HCV

Israeli patients with hepatitis C virus infection genotype 1 showed varied improvements after protease inhibitor-based triple therapy.

“The first generation DAA-based triple therapy today can still be a reasonable therapeutic option for HCV patients,” Gil Ben yakov, MD, of the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel, told Healio.com/Hepatology. “It is [countries with limited resources] whose health budget cannot afford the huge expense of the new regimes.” Read more