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Chronic HCV Infection: Clinical Advances and Eradication Perspectives - Part II

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 12502

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nadia Marascio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, Unit of Clinical Microbiology, “Magna Graecia” University, Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: clinical virology; viral pathogenesis; HCV drug-resistance; classic and molecular epidemiology; microbiome and metagenome analysis; infectious diseases; microbiology; HBV; HDV; HEV; HIV; antibiotic resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Giovanni Matera

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Microbiology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: microbiology; virology; infectious and tropical diseases; pathogen-host interaction; cytokines; diagnostic methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a plan to eradicate Hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030. HCV is responsible of hepatic (liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and extra-hepatic (i.e., mixed cryoglobulinemia, metabolic syndrome, kidney disease, and so on) diseases. Additionally, clinical manifestations could worsen by viral co-infections, such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Screening policy in the general population as well as in specific risk categories is necessary to allow for timely diagnosis and treatment. Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) drugs are used to cure HCV infected people independently of the genotype/subtype with high rate of sustained viral response (SVR). However, pan-genotypic regimens efficacy can be influenced by resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) carried on genomic target regions of particular HCV isolates.

This Special Issue aims to discuss HCV elimination program before and during the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, considering the reallocation of public health resources. We would like to invite original research, short communications, review and viewpoints. We look forward to your evaluable scientific contributions.

We are delighted to announce the Part II of the Special Issue “Chronic HCV Infection: Clinical Advances and Eradication Perspectives”.

Dr. Nadia Marascio
Prof. Dr. Giovanni Matera
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
  • chronic infection
  • treatment efficacy
  • Direct Acting Antivirals (DAA)
  • Resistance Associated Substitution (RAS)
  • epidemiology
  • screening policy
  • eradication of infection
  • hepatic diseases
  • extra-hepatic manifestations

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 277 KiB  
Article
Are We on the Right Track for HCV Micro-Elimination? HCV Management Practices in Dialysis Centers in Poland—A National Cross-Sectional Survey
by Paulina Czarnecka, Kinga Czarnecka, Olga Tronina, Teresa Baczkowska, Weronika Zarychta-Wisniewska and Magdalena Durlik
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(7), 2711; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12072711 - 4 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1690
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is prevalent in the hemodialysis-dependent population. Currently, all patients with CHC should be considered for treatment; however, many hemodialysis-dependent patients are still left untreated. Following HCV cure, accurate surveillance is mandatory to reduce liver-related mortality and prevent reinfection. We [...] Read more.
Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is prevalent in the hemodialysis-dependent population. Currently, all patients with CHC should be considered for treatment; however, many hemodialysis-dependent patients are still left untreated. Following HCV cure, accurate surveillance is mandatory to reduce liver-related mortality and prevent reinfection. We aimed to establish HCV management practices and barriers to HCV elimination in dialysis centers in Poland. Polish dialysis centers were surveyed via email. The HCV management strategies were investigated. Representatives of 112 dialysis centers responded, representing 43.1% of all dialysis centers in Poland and 43.4% of hemodialysis-dependent patients’ volume. Most respondents were Heads of hemodialysis centers and board-certified nephrologists. The study demonstrated that in the vast majority of hemodialysis centers (91.6%), subjects are considered for antiviral treatment (AVT); however, many obstacles preventing patients from being prescribed AVT were identified; patients’ reluctance to undergo AVT was most reported (60%). The majority of dialysis units neither evaluate patients with CHC for liver fibrosis (60.4%) nor screen them for hepatocellular carcinoma (53.5%). In conclusion, the presented study demonstrates that HCV management practices across Polish dialysis centers vary substantially. There is a need to optimize and streamline the HCV management infrastructure in the hemodialysis population in Poland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic HCV Infection: Clinical Advances and Eradication Perspectives - Part II)
8 pages, 1242 KiB  
Communication
HCV-HIV Chronic Coinfection Prevalence in Amazon Region
by Marcio Nahum Lobo, Susan Denice Flores Irias, Pedro Leão Fontes Neto, Maria Eduarda Sousa Avelino, Maria Karoliny da Silva Torres, Marlinda de Carvalho Souza, Ricardo Roberto Souza Fonseca, Pedro Eduardo Bonfim Freitas, Heloisa Marceliano Nunes, José Raul Rocha de Araújo Júnior, Dickson Ciro Nascimento de Brito, Aldemir Branco Oliveira-Filho and Luiz Fernando Almeida Machado
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(24), 7284; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11247284 - 8 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1476
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health problem, especially in areas with a low human development index such as the Amazon region. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and genotypes of HCV among people living with HIV (PLWH), both [...] Read more.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health problem, especially in areas with a low human development index such as the Amazon region. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and genotypes of HCV among people living with HIV (PLWH), both neglected chronic diseases in the Amazon region. From March 2016 to June 2017, 433 PWLH were attended to at two sexually transmitted infection referral centers in the city of Belém, in the Brazilian state of Pará in the Amazon region. All individuals were submitted to testing via the rapid immunochromatographic assay (RIA) for the qualitative detection of anti-HCV antibodies. Samples with anti-HCV antibodies were evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and samples with HCV RNA were subjected to nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Three (0.7%) PLWH had anti-HCV antibodies, and only one (0.2%) had HCV RNA (genotype 2); of these, 31 (7.1%) self-declared to have used drugs at least one time, and 12 (2.7%) regularly use injected drugs. One participant was elderly, single, heterosexual, with a history of unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners. This study detected a low prevalence of HCV infection and recorded the presence of HCV genotype 2 for the first time among PLWH in the Brazilian Amazon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic HCV Infection: Clinical Advances and Eradication Perspectives - Part II)
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10 pages, 680 KiB  
Article
Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs Reduce Fibromyalgia Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
by Kuo-Tung Tang, Ching-Chun Lin, Yi-Hsing Chen, Tsai-Ling Liao, Der-Yuan Chen, Sheng-Shun Yang and Chia-Chang Chen
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(18), 5327; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11185327 - 10 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1878
Abstract
Background Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and significant patient burden. Patients with chronic hepatitis C are reportedly predisposed to the development of FM. Direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA) achieved a remarkable therapeutic efficacy in CHC patients. We therefore [...] Read more.
Background Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and significant patient burden. Patients with chronic hepatitis C are reportedly predisposed to the development of FM. Direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAA) achieved a remarkable therapeutic efficacy in CHC patients. We therefore investigated the impact of DAA on FM symptoms in CHC patients. Methods We enrolled consecutive CHC patients who received DAA. FM symptoms were evaluated based on the 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) fibromyalgia scale at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks after cessation of DAA therapy. Logistic regression was performed to determine the influence of HCV on FM at baseline. We also recruited individuals who underwent a health checkup examination as the control group, and calculated the standardized prevalence ratio of FM in CHC patients. Comparisons of fibromyalgia in different time points were undertaken using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results A total of 33 CHC patients (15 males and 18 females) and 402 controls were recruited. All CHC patients achieved sustained virological response. Two (6%) patients and two (0.5%) controls fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for FM, and the standardized prevalence ratio was 23.9 in CHC patients. Logistic regression also showed increased odds for FM in CHC patients after adjusting for age and sex (OR: 14.4; 95%CI: 1.6, 128.0). In addition, their fibromyalgianess scale decreased at 12 and 24 weeks after DAA therapy. In conclusion, CHC patients were more likely to develop FM. Implementation of DAA therapy might improve FM symptoms in these patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic HCV Infection: Clinical Advances and Eradication Perspectives - Part II)
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Review

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17 pages, 1246 KiB  
Review
Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Origin in Pediatric Age Group: Recent Outbreaks and Approach to Management
by Neil Patel, Yashendra Sethi, Nirja Kaka, Oroshay Kaiwan, Ishita Gupta, Rahma Sameh Shaheen, Shady Sapoor, Hitesh Chopra, Mihaela Simona Popoviciu, Talha Bin Emran and Simona Cavalu
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12010009 - 20 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4321
Abstract
Acute hepatitis has always been a public health concern, but the recent clustering of cases in various parts of the world has drawn some special attention. The sudden rise in cases has mainly been among the pediatric population of around 35 countries around [...] Read more.
Acute hepatitis has always been a public health concern, but the recent clustering of cases in various parts of the world has drawn some special attention. The sudden rise in cases has mainly been among the pediatric population of around 35 countries around the world, including developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and European countries. The outbreaks have had a devastating impact, with around 10% of the affected patients developing liver failure. The clinical presentation of patients resembles any other case of acute hepatitis, with the major symptoms being: jaundice (68.8%), vomiting (57.6%), and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain (36.1%) and nausea (25.7%). Interestingly, the cases have tested negative for hepatotropic viruses Hep A, B, C, and E, thus giving rise to the terms Hepatitis of Unknown Origin or non-HepA–E hepatitis. Many causes have been attributed to the disease, with major evidence seen for adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2. International agencies have stressed on establishing diagnostic and management protocols to limit these outbreaks. As the understanding has evolved over time, diagnostic and management faculties have found more shape. The current review was designed to comprehensively compile all existing data and whittle it down to evidence-based conclusions to help clinicians. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic HCV Infection: Clinical Advances and Eradication Perspectives - Part II)
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10 pages, 959 KiB  
Review
The Role of the Microbiota Gut–Liver Axis during HCV Chronic Infection: A Schematic Overview
by Nadia Marascio, Carmen De Caro, Angela Quirino, Maria Mazzitelli, Emilio Russo, Carlo Torti and Giovanni Matera
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(19), 5936; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11195936 - 8 Oct 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2371
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) still represents one of the most important worldwide health care problems. Since 2011, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have increased the number of people who have achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). Even if the program to eradicate HCV by [...] Read more.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) still represents one of the most important worldwide health care problems. Since 2011, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have increased the number of people who have achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). Even if the program to eradicate HCV by 2030 is still ongoing, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created a delay due to the reallocation of public health resources. HCV is characterized by high genetic variability and is responsible for hepatic and extra-hepatic diseases. Depending on the HCV genotype/subtype and comorbidities of patients, tailored treatment is necessary. Recently, it has been shown that liver damage impacts gut microbiota, altering the microbial community (dysbiosis) during persistent viral replication. An increasing number of studies are trying to clarify the role of the gut–liver axis during HCV chronic infection. DAA therapy, by restoring the gut microbiota equilibrium, seems to improve liver disease progression in both naïve and treated HCV-positive patients. In this review, we aim to discuss a snapshot of selected peer-reviewed papers concerning the interplay between HCV and the gut–liver axis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic HCV Infection: Clinical Advances and Eradication Perspectives - Part II)
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