0000000001070841
AUTHOR
Mark S. Sulkowski
Factors that predict response of patients with hepatitis C virus infection to boceprevir
Background & Aims Little is known about factors associated with a sustained virologic response (SVR) among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to treatment with protease inhibitors. Methods Previously untreated patients (from the Serine Protease Inhibitor Therapy 2 [SPRINT-2] trial) and those who did not respond to prior therapy (from the Retreatment with HCV Serine Protease Inhibitor Boceprevir and PegIntron/Rebetol 2 [RESPOND-2] trial) received either a combination of peginterferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks or boceprevir, peginterferon, and ribavirin (triple therapy) after 4 weeks of peginterferon and ribavirin (total treatment duration, 28–48 wk). A good response to interfer…
The case for simplifying and using absolute targets for viral hepatitis elimination goals
The 69th World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Health Sector Strategy for Viral Hepatitis, embracing a goal to eliminate hepatitis infection as a public health threat by 2030. This was followed by the World Health Organization's (WHO) global targets for the care and management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. These announcements and targets were important in raising awareness and calling for action; however, tracking countries’ progress towards these elimination goals has provided insights to the limitations of these targets. The existing targets compare a country's progress relative to its 2015 values, penalizing countries who started their programmes …
Extrahepatic Morbidity and Mortality of Chronic Hepatitis C
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with several extra-hepatic manifestations. Patients with HCV may develop mixed cryoglobulinemia and its sequelae, ranging from cutaneous and visceral vasculitis to glomerulonephritis and B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. HCV-infected patients have increased rates of insulin resistance, diabetes and atherosclerosis, which may lead to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Neurologic manifestations of HCV infection include fatigue and cognitive impairment. The mechanisms causing the extra-hepatic effects of HCV infection are likely multifactorial and may include endocrine effects, HCV replication in extra-hepatic cells, or a heig…