0000000000157105
AUTHOR
Ramon Planas
Evolutionary dynamics of the E1-E2 viral populations during combination therapy in non-responder patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus subtype 1b.
Abstract Half of the patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 fail to respond to pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) therapy. This study assesses the effects of treatment on the evolution of the E1–E2 viral region in non-responder patients infected with HCV-1b. Twenty-three HCV-1b chronically infected patients were studied retrospectively, including 19 non-responders to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy (11 null-responders and 8 relapsers) in the study group, and 4 untreated patients in the control group. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of the E1–E2 viral populations were performed at baseline and at the time of treatment failure to assess changes in ge…
Simeprevir and daclatasvir for 12 or 24 weeks in treatment-naïve patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and advanced liver disease
Background & Aims: We investigated the efficacy and safety of simeprevir plus daclatasvir in treatment-naïve patients with chronic, genotype 1b hepatitis C virus infection and advanced liver disease, excluding patients with pre-defined NS5A resistance-associated substitutions. Methods: This phase II, open-label, single-arm, multicentre study included patients aged ≥18 years with advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis (METAVIR F3/4). Patients with NS5A-Y93H or L31M/V resistance-associated substitutions at screening were excluded. Simeprevir (150 mg)+daclatasvir (60 mg) once daily was administered for 12 or 24 weeks; treatment could be extended to 24 weeks prior to or at the Week 12 v…
Serum and ascitic fluid bacterial DNA: a new independent prognostic factor in noninfected patients with cirrhosis.
We tested the hypothesis that the presence of bacterial DNA (bactDNA) in ascitic fluid and serum is associated with decreased survival in patients with cirrhosis. In a prospective, multicenter study, we analyzed the clinical evolution of 156 patients with cirrhosis and ascites (first or recurrence) with lower than 250 polymorphonuclear cells (PMN)/L, negative ascites bacteriological culture, and absence of other bacterial infections being admitted for evaluation of largevolume paracentesis, according to the presence of bactDNA at admission. Survival, causes of death, and successive hospital admissions were determined during a 12-month follow-up period. BactDNA was detected in 48 patients. T…