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Life
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Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge
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Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 5818

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Riccardo Nevola

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Piazza Miraglia 2, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: chronic HCV hepatitis; viral hepatitis; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; metabolic syndrome; SARS-CoV-2
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Although the advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) seemed to be able to put an end to the era of chronic HCV hepatitis, we are still far from achieving the goal of global elimination by 2030 suggested by WHO. In fact, the depletion of the pool of patients with known HCV infection and the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant slowdown in virus elimination programs. To date, the limiting factor in achieving the WHO objectives seems to be the identification of submerged cases. The implementation of screening programs (particularly in high-risk populations) and the optimization of the linkage to care of diagnosed cases must be key points in viral hepatitis fighting programs. Furthermore, the current persistence of a rich viral reservoir results in clinical issues that are all but obsolete. In fact, hepatic (liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma) and extra-hepatic manifestations (e.g., cryoglobulinemia and B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, diabetes mellitus, increased cardio-vascular risk) account for an unjustified morbidity and mortality rate, especially since viral clearance achieved by DAAs has been shown to be effective in preventing or treating most of them. Therefore, the fight against chronic HCV hepatitis is more active than ever before.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide an update on the current clinical and epidemiological knowledge of HCV infection, promote the development of new evidence of the impact of viral clearance on hepatic and extra-hepatic viral manifestations and encourage the emergence of new proposals and new models useful to definitively ending the era of chronic HCV hepatitis.

Dr. Riccardo Nevola
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chronic HCV hepatitis
  • viral hepatitis
  • elimination programs
  • extrahepatic manifestations
  • direct-acting antivirals

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 497 KiB  
Article
Predictors of Significant Liver Fibrosis in People with Chronic Hepatitis C Who Inject Drugs in the Czech Republic
by Sona Frankova, Nikola Uzlova, Dusan Merta, Veronika Pitova and Jan Sperl
Life 2023, 13(4), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13040932 - 2 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1303
Abstract
Background and objectives: HCV infection often remains untreated in people who inject drugs (PWID), albeit they may present with advanced liver fibrosis at a young age. We aimed to assess the rate of patients with significant fibrosis in PWID starting anti-HCV therapy and [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: HCV infection often remains untreated in people who inject drugs (PWID), albeit they may present with advanced liver fibrosis at a young age. We aimed to assess the rate of patients with significant fibrosis in PWID starting anti-HCV therapy and identify the factors associated with severe fibrosis. Methods: The cohort of 200 patients was divided into two groups: F0–F2 (N = 154, 77%), patients with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) < 10.0 kPa, and F3–F4 (N = 46, 23%), with LSM ≥ 10.0 kPa, indicating significant liver fibrosis. Results: In group F3–F4, there were significantly more males, and the patients were older, with a higher BMI. The number of long-term abstaining patients was significantly higher in group F3–F4 compared with group F0–F2, as well as the proportion of patients reporting harmful drinking. Obesity (OR 4.77), long-term abstinence from illicit drugs (OR 4.06), harmful drinking (OR 2.83), and older age (OR 1.17) were significant predictors of advanced fibrosis in PWID starting anti-HCV therapy. Conclusions: A quarter of PWID presented with significant liver fibrosis at treatment initiation. Obesity, long-term drug abstinence, harmful drinking, and older age contributed to significant liver fibrosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge)
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15 pages, 1664 KiB  
Article
Changing Landscape of Liver Transplantation in the Post-DAA and Contemporary ART Era
by Huma Saeed, Edison J. Cano, Mohammad Qasim Khan, Zachary A. Yetmar, Byron Smith, Stacey A. Rizza, Andrew D. Badley, Maryam Mahmood, Michael D. Leise and Nathan W. Cummins
Life 2022, 12(11), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12111755 - 1 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1382
Abstract
Combination anti-retroviral therapy has drastically improved solid organ transplantation outcomes in persons living with HIV. DAA therapy has led to the successful eradication of HCV. While recent data have suggested improvement in outcomes in HIV/HCV-coinfected liver transplant recipients, temporal trends in patient survival [...] Read more.
Combination anti-retroviral therapy has drastically improved solid organ transplantation outcomes in persons living with HIV. DAA therapy has led to the successful eradication of HCV. While recent data have suggested improvement in outcomes in HIV/HCV-coinfected liver transplant recipients, temporal trends in patient survival within pre- and post-DAA eras are yet to be elucidated. The UNOS database was utilized to identify deceased donor liver transplant recipients between 1 January 2000 and 30 September 2020 and stratify them by HIV and HCV infection status. A total of 85,730 patients met the inclusion criteria. One-year and five-year patient survival improved (93% and 80%, respectively) for all transplants performed post-2015. For HIV/HCV-coinfected recipients, survival improved significantly from 78% (pre-2015) to 92% (post-2015). Multivariate regression analyses identified advanced recipient age, Black race, diabetes mellitus and decompensated cirrhosis as risk factors associated with higher one-year mortality. Liver transplant outcomes in HIV/HCV-coinfected liver transplant recipients have significantly improved over the last quinquennium in the setting of the highly effective combination of ART and DAA therapy. The presence of HIV, HCV, HIV/HCV-coinfection and active HCV viremia at the time of transplant do not cause higher mortality risk in liver transplant recipients in the current era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge)
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Review

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13 pages, 975 KiB  
Review
Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge in Screening and Treatment
by Wei-Chu Tsai, Hsueh-Chien Chiang, Yen-Cheng Chiu, Shih-Chieh Chien, Pin-Nan Cheng and Hung-Chih Chiu
Life 2023, 13(10), 1964; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13101964 - 26 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1382
Abstract
With the advent of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) in the recent few years, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become a curable infectious disease. Successful clearance of HCV could lead to improvement of both hepatic and extrahepatic outcomes, such as complications of cirrhosis, [...] Read more.
With the advent of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) in the recent few years, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become a curable infectious disease. Successful clearance of HCV could lead to improvement of both hepatic and extrahepatic outcomes, such as complications of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cardiovascular diseases, and incident diabetes. However, challenges persist in reaching the HCV elimination goals of the World Health Organization by 2030. Among these challenges are identifying those already infected or undiagnosed subjects, re-linking to the care of known but untreated HCV-infected subjects, and developing strategies to enhance treatment rates and compliance in specific or high-risk populations. In addition, issues of post-DAA viral clearance, including avoiding or preventing reinfection in high-risk populations and surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma, are important to consolidate the treatment’s short- and long-term efficacies. In the current DAA era, treatment is the most effective prevention strategy not only in its excellent efficacy and safety but also in preventing HCV spread. All of the surveillance or measures should center on DAA treatment in clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge)
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Other

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9 pages, 413 KiB  
Brief Report
Viral Hepatitis C New Microelimination Pathways Objective: Psychiatric Communities HCV Free
by Vito Fiore, Andrea De Vito, Agnese Colpani, Valentina Manca, Ivana Maida, Giordano Madeddu and Sergio Babudieri
Life 2022, 12(11), 1873; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12111873 - 13 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1247
Abstract
Background: People with psychiatric disorders have a high prevalence of HCV. For this reason, tailored interventions should be developed to reach this population. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients treated for HCV infection in psychiatric nursing homes, approached with a quick [...] Read more.
Background: People with psychiatric disorders have a high prevalence of HCV. For this reason, tailored interventions should be developed to reach this population. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients treated for HCV infection in psychiatric nursing homes, approached with a quick diagnosis, staging and treatment. Results: We included data on 586 people screened for HCV with quick tests. High HCV seroprevalence was found in this population (231; 39.4%). Among people who tested positive, there were high rates of active infection (220; 95.2%). Out of the 220 patients with active infection, 95.9% were male, 85.5% were Italian, median age was 43 (IQR = 35–52) years old. In the majority of cases (162; 73.6%), the risk factor was unknown. The most common genotype was 3a (98; 44.5%), and patients mostly had a low fibrosis, according with FIB-4 value (142; 64.5%). Of them, one (0.45%) categorically refused the treatment, and one (0.45%) had liver cirrhosis and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Overall, 218 patients underwent eligibility for DAAs. The most prescribed treatment was glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB (172; 78.2%)). The others practiced sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL). All patients reached the end of treatment. One (0.45%) was lost to follow up, and all the others reached the SVR12. Conclusions: The point-of-care testing and pangenotypic DAAs’ availability represent one of the most important steps for a fast diagnostic and therapeutical option. Tailored microelimination pathways for every difficult-to-reach/to-treat populations are needed. This would allow us to move more easily towards HCV elimination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: An Ongoing Challenge)
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