Advancing Hepatitis Elimination: HBV, HDV, and HCV

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1221

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Microbiology Department, University Hospital San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
Interests: clinical virology; molecular epidemiology and resistance of HIV and hepatitis; sexually transmitted infections; Mycoplasma genitalium epidemiologya, pathogenesis and resistance to antibiotics; microbiome and metagenome analysis; infectious and non infectious diseases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global elimination of viral hepatitis remains a critical public health goal, with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) representing significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Despite advancements in diagnostics, antiviral therapies, and vaccination programs, substantial gaps remain in achieving the World Health Organization's elimination targets by 2030.

This Special Issue invites cutting-edge research, reviews, and perspectives focusing on innovative strategies, barriers, and opportunities in the fight against HBV, HDV, and HCV. Topics of interest include but are not limited to novel diagnostic tools, therapeutic approaches, vaccination strategies, epidemiological insights, and public health policies aimed at prevention and elimination.

By bringing together a diverse collection of studies, we aim to foster collaboration across disciplines and provide actionable insights that can accelerate the elimination of these debilitating infections. We welcome contributions from clinicians, researchers, and public health experts to shed light on the current state of hepatitis elimination and the road ahead.

Dr. Federico Garcia
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • hepatitis elimination
  • HBV
  • HCV
  • HDV

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 564 KiB  
Article
Real-World Treatment Efficacy and Safety Profile of Sofosbuvir- and Velpatasvir-Based HCV Treatment in South Korea: Multicenter Prospective Study
by Jae Hyun Yoon, Chang Hun Lee, Hoon Gil Jo, Ju-Yeon Cho, Jin Dong Kim, Jin Won Kim, Ga Ram You, Sung Bum Cho and Sung Kyu Choi
Viruses 2025, 17(7), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17070949 - 4 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has marked a significant milestone in the therapeutic landscape of hepatitis C, greatly improving treatment efficacy. A therapeutic regimen encompassing sofosbuvir (SOF), velpatasvir (VEL), and voxilaprevir (VOX) has demonstrated strong efficacy across all genotypes of the [...] Read more.
Background: The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has marked a significant milestone in the therapeutic landscape of hepatitis C, greatly improving treatment efficacy. A therapeutic regimen encompassing sofosbuvir (SOF), velpatasvir (VEL), and voxilaprevir (VOX) has demonstrated strong efficacy across all genotypes of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and has recently been incorporated into the Korean healthcare system. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of these antivirals in the South Korean population. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, observational study enrolled patients with chronic HCV treated with SOF/VEL-based regimens at six hospitals between November 2022 and January 2024. DAA-naïve patients received SOF/VEL ± ribavirin for 12 weeks. Patients who had failed prior DAA therapy received SOF/VEL/VOX for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12). Results: Among 101 patients treated with SOF/VEL, the mean age was 64.71 years, and 40.9% were male. Genotypes 1b and 2 were identified in 40.6% and 59.4% of patients, respectively. Two patients had a history of interferon-based treatment. The mean baseline HCV RNA level was 3,088,097 IU/mL. Cirrhosis was observed in 26.7% of patients (21.8% compensated; 5.0% decompensated). Of the 101 patients, 12 were lost to follow-up. Among the 89 patients who completed follow-up, SVR12 was achieved in 100.0% (89/89), including 5 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. In the SOF/VEL/VOX group, 17 patients were treated. The mean age was 61.84 years, 29.4% were male, and four had compensated cirrhosis. One patient was lost to follow-up. SVR12 was achieved in 100.0% (16/16) of the patients who completed follow-up. No serious adverse events (≥grade 3) were reported in either group during the DAA treatment period. Conclusions: In this first prospective real-world study in South Korea, SOF/VEL-based regimens demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety, achieving 100% SVR12 in the per-protocol population, including patients with cirrhosis and prior treatment failure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Hepatitis Elimination: HBV, HDV, and HCV)
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12 pages, 738 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Diagnosis of Viral Hepatitis in Spain: Bases for Implementation
by Joaquin Cabezas, Antonio Aguilera, Federico García, Raquel Domínguez-Hernández, Araceli Casado-Gómez, Nataly Espinoza-Cámac, Miguel Ángel Casado and Javier Crespo
Viruses 2025, 17(5), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17050667 - 3 May 2025
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Abstract
In 2022, scientific societies agreed on a document with recommendations for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis (B, C, and D). The aim was to evaluate the situation in Spain regarding the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single blood draw before [...] Read more.
In 2022, scientific societies agreed on a document with recommendations for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis (B, C, and D). The aim was to evaluate the situation in Spain regarding the comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single blood draw before it is recommended. A panel of experts prepared a structured survey directed at hospitals (public or private with teaching accreditation) with ≥200 beds (sent 20 October 2022, closed 1 December 2022). The response rate was 61% (79/129; 52 hospitals with >500 beds). Among the participating hospitals, all could perform tests for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and HIV serology; 94% could perform PCR testing for HCV, 63% could test for anti-HDV, and 28% could test for HDV-RNA (67% [53/79] outsourced this testing). Point-of-care (POC) testing availability was low (24%), with 84% of these tests being supervised by the reference microbiological laboratory and the results being registered in the patients’ medical history. Ninety percent of the centers carried out the diagnosis in a single step (99% HCV, 70% HBV, 48% HDV, and 44% HBV-HDV). In addition, 77% used some communication strategy when an active infection was encountered (100% HCV, 49% HBV, and 31% HDV). Only 20% had an automated system for scheduling a specialist physician appointment. Most hospitals had the means for a comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis in a single sample, but <50% could test for HBV/HDV. Alerts for continuity of care were available for HCV, but not HBV or HDV. POC device implementation is important for decentralized testing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Hepatitis Elimination: HBV, HDV, and HCV)
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