Spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C after liver and renal transplantation

Spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is rare in immunocompromised patients, such as those who have undergone organ transplantation. It has been recognized that patients receiving liver transplantation for HCV-related disease have decreased graft and patient survival compared with those transplanted for other etiologies. There is a growing trend toward treating HCV recurrence aggressively after liver transplantation. For other organ transplant recipients with concurrent HCV, treatment is not often an option, given the high rates of graft rejection and loss secondary to interferon and its immunomodulatory effects. Although spontaneous clearance of HCV has been reported in recipients of solitary liver and renal transplants, a common factor arising in these cases has been previous exposure to interferon. To date, no reports of spontaneous clearance of HCV RNA have been reported in a multiorgan transplant recipient. A case of spontaneous clearance of HCV RNA in an immunocompromised patient, within five months of simultaneous liver and kidney retransplantation is described. Importantly, this patient had no previous exposure to interferon.     

Vertically acquired hepatitis C virus infection:Correlates of transmission and disease progression

The worldwide prevalence of hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection in children is 0.05%-0.4% in developed countries and 2%-5% in resource-limited settings, where inadequately tested blood products or un-sterile medical injections still remain important routes of infection. After the screening of blood donors, motherto-child transmission(MTCT) of HCV has become the leading cause of pediatric infection, at a rate of 5%. Maternal HIV co-infection is a significant risk factor for MTCT and anti-HIV therapy during pregnancy seemingly can reduce the transmission rate of both viruses. Conversely, a high maternal viral load is an important, but not preventable risk factor, because at present no anti-HCV treatment can be administered to pregnant women to block viral replication. Caution is needed in adopting obstetric procedures, such as amniocentesis or internal fetal monitoring, that can favor fetal exposure to HCV contaminated maternal blood, though evidence is lacking on the real risk of single obstetric practices. Mode of delivery and type of feeding do not represent significant risk factors for MTCT. Therefore, there is no reason to offer elective caesarean section or discourage breast-feeding to HCV infected parturients. Information on the natural history of vertical HCV infection is limited. The primary infection is asymptomatic in infants. At least one quarter of infected children shows a spontaneous viral clearance(SVC) that usually occurs within 6 years of life. IL-28 B polymorphims and genotype 3 infection have been associated with greater chances of SVC. In general, HCV progression is mild or moderate in children with chronic infection who grow regularly, though cases with marked liver fibrosis or hepatic failure have been described. Non-organ specific autoantibodies and cryoglobulins are frequently found in children with chronic infection, but autoimmune diseases or HCV associated extrahepatic manifestations are rare.     

Low viraemia at enrollment in children with chronic hepatitis C favours spontaneous viral clearance

Summary.  The significance of hepatitis C viral (HCV)-RNA levels in long-term clinical outcomes of children with chronic HCV infection is not well understood. We conducted a long-term follow-up study of 42 children with chronic HCV infection that included clinical evaluation, biochemical tests, HCV genotyping and repeated quantitative HCV-RNA detection. Patients were divided into low and high viraemia groups according to RNA levels at enrollment (below/above 4.5 × 10⁴ IU/mL), and clinical, biochemical and virological factors were evaluated. Overall, 14.3% (6/42) of patients developed spontaneous viral clearance during a median 10.1 years of follow-up. HCV-RNA levels at enrollment and mean RNA levels during follow-up for each patient were significantly correlated ( R  = 0.9018, 95% CI: 0.6637–0.9038, P ≤  0.001). HCV-RNA level fluctuation was within two log units in 76% of patients. Cumulative viraemia probability during follow-up could be predicted by viraemia levels at enrollment ( P  =   0.0092). Chronic HCV-infected children, with an RNA level below 4.5 × 10⁴ IU/mL at enrollment, have a higher spontaneous viral clearance rate.     

Spontaneous resolution of systemic sarcoidosis in a patient with chronic hepatitis C without interferon therapy

A 39-year-old male patient complaining of bilateral handjoint arthralgia was evaluated and found to have chronichepatitis C and systemic sarcoidosis involving lung,skin,liver,and spleen.Hepatic and cutaneous sarcoidoseswere confirmed by the presence of numerousnoncaseating granulomas on histological examination.Pulmonary and splenic involvements were diagnosed byimaging studies.Fifteen months later,the sarcoidotic lesions in lung,liver,and spleen were resolved by radiological studiesand a liver biopsy showed no granuloma but moderateto severe inflammatory activity,systemic sarcoidosisis a rare comorbidity of chronic hepatitis C which mayspontaneously resolve.     

Association of the HLA-DRB1*01 allele with spontaneous viral clearance in an Irish cohort infected with hepatitis C virus via contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The host's immune response may influence the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of HLA Class II DRB1* alleles in a homogeneous cohort of individuals who were infected with HCV-contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin, and to compare frequencies of alleles in individuals with spontaneous viral clearance to those with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: HLA DRB1* typing was performed on whole blood or serum from 157 females. Of these, 73 had spontaneously recovered from infection (persistently HCV RNA negative), while 84 had chronic HCV infection (persistently HCV RNA positive). A group of 5000 healthy bone marrow donors served as a control population. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between individuals with spontaneous viral clearance or chronic HCV infection for age, sex, alcohol consumption, source or duration of infection. The DRB1*01 allele was found significantly more frequently in individuals with viral clearance compared to those with chronic infection (27.4% vs. 7.1% p = 0.001, odds ratio OR = 4.9, pc = 0.01). No significant association was shown between severity of liver disease and DRB1* alleles. CONCLUSIONS: DRB1*01 is associated with spontaneous viral clearance in an Irish cohort infected with HCV via contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin. HLA-DRB1* genes do not appear to influence severity of liver disease. These results suggest that host HLA-DRB1* alleles are important contributors to disease outcome.     

APRI as a predictor of early viral response in chronic hepatitis C patients

AIM: To evaluate the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI) as a predictive factor of early viral response in chronic hepatitis C naive patients.METHODS: We performed an ambispective casecontrol study. We enrolled chronic hepatitis C naive patients who were evaluated to start therapy with PEGylated interferon a-2b (1.5 mg/kg per week) and ribavirin (> 75 kg: 1200 mg and < 75 kg: 1000 mg). Patients were allocated into two groups, group 1: Hepatitis C patients with early viral response (EVR), group 2: Patients without EVR. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the relationship between each risk factor and the EVR in both groups.RESULTS: During the study, 80 patients were analyzed, 45 retrospectively and 35 prospectively. The mean ± SD age of our subjects was 42.9 ± 12 years; weight 70 kg (± 11.19), AST 64.6 IU/mL (± 48.74), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 76.3 IU/mL (± 63.08) and platelets 209 000 mill/mm3 (± 84 429). Fifty-five (68.8%) were genotype 1 and 25 (31.3%) were genotype 2 or 3; the mean hepatitis C virus RNA viral load was 2 269 061 IU/mL (± 7 220 266). In the univariate analysis, APRI was not associated with EVR [OR 0.61 (95% CI 0.229-1.655, P = 0.33)], and the absence of EVR was only associated with genotype 1 [OR 0.28 (95% CI 0.08-0.94, P = 0.034)]. After adjustment in a logistic regression model, genotype 1 remains significant.CONCLUSION: APRI was not a predictor of EVR in chronic hepatitis C; Genotype 1 was the only predictive factor associated with the absence of EVR in our patients.     

慢性丙型肝炎患者感染病毒基因型对抗病毒治疗应答的影响

目的：探讨丙型肝炎病毒基因型与抗病毒治疗后病毒学应答之间的关系。方法113例慢性丙型肝炎患者接受聚乙二醇干扰素（PEG-IFNα-2a）联合利巴韦林治疗48周。采用 Simmonds 基因分型法进行 HCV 基因分型。结果在113例患者中,基因1型88例（78.0%）,非基因1型25例（22.0%）;非基因1型患者快速病毒学应答率（RVR）明显高于基因1型患者（80%对48.8%,P＜0.05）;非基因1型患者持续病毒学应答率（SVR）明显高于基因1型患者（80.0%对64.8%,P＜0.05）;低病毒载量患者RVR 明显高于高病毒载量患者（78.9%对46.7%,P＜0.05）。结论 HCV 基因型和 HCV RNA 复制水平对 PEG-IFNα-2a 联合利巴韦林抗病毒治疗的疗效有一定的影响,提示 HCV 基因分型有重要的临床意义。     

基因1型慢性丙型肝炎初治患者获得持续病毒学应答的相关因素研究

目的研究接受长效干扰素和利巴韦林治疗的基因1型慢性丙型肝炎患者获得持续病毒学应答的预测因素。方法 73例基因1型慢性丙型肝炎患者接受干扰素α-2a联合利巴韦林治疗24周或48周,随访6个月。结果 47.9%患者获得早期病毒学应答,38.4%患者获得持续病毒学应答;分析表明治疗前低病毒载量（小于8×105IU/ml）、体重指数低于25kg/m2和出现早期病毒学应答者更容易获得持续病毒学应答。结论病毒载量、体重指数和是否出现早期病毒学应答与基因1型慢性丙型肝炎初治患者获得持续病毒学应答相关。     

Profound suppression of chronic hepatitis C following superinfection with hepatitis B virus.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share similar transmission routes; thus, coinfection is frequent. The consequences of acute HBV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C are unknown. METHODS: We describe a 47-year-old male with chronic hepatitis C who acquired HBV and then spontaneously and apparently completely cleared HCV but developed chronic hepatitis B. Five serum samples collected over 14 months and lymphoid cells obtained after acquiring HBV were tested for HCV and HBV by both standard assays and ultra-sensitive polymerase chain reaction/nucleic acid hybridization (PCR/NAH) (sensitivity approximately 2 IU/ml). RESULTS: After superinfection with HBV, HBV surface antigen-positive chronic hepatitis developed with readily detectable HBV DNA. All sera collected after acquisition of HBV, which tested negative for HCV RNA by standard laboratory assay, were positive for HCV genomes when analysed by PCR/NAH. Peripheral lymphoid cells carried HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA, but were negative for HCV. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of profound suppression of chronic hepatitis C after superinfection with HBV and establishment of chronic hepatitis B. It is hypothesized that HBV infection precipitated generalized and/or virus-specific cellular immune responses that profoundly suppressed HCV replication and yet failed to inhibit progression to chronic hepatitis B.     

慢性丙型肝炎患者年龄和感染方式对抗病毒治疗应答的影响

目的探讨患者年龄和感染方式与慢性丙型肝炎患者抗病毒疗效的关系。方法应用聚乙二醇干扰素联合利巴韦林治疗113例慢性丙型肝炎患者。采用实时荧光PCR法检测血清HCV RNA定量;采用CE1区测序遗传树比对分析法检测HCV基因型。结果在20例有静脉吸毒史的患者,获得持续病毒学应答率（95.0%）明显高于54例医源性感染患者（75.9%,P〈0.05）和39例既无静脉吸毒史又无明显医源性感染患者（69.2%,P〈0.05）;在年龄≤40岁的患者,获得持续病毒学应答率（82.9%）明显高于年龄〉40岁的患者（65.1%,P〈0.05）;有静脉吸毒史的患者主要感染HCV3型（45%）和6型（50%）,而医源性感染组和其他组感染HCV1b型的比例分别为51.9%和43.6%;在无静脉吸毒史的患者中,年龄≤40岁组患者感染非HCV1型（2型、3型和6型）的比例达64.7%,而年龄〉40岁组患者感染HCV1型的比例达64.3%。结论慢性丙型肝炎患者年龄及感染方式可作为判断感染病毒基因型的参考指标,对抗病毒治疗的疗程确定和疗效预测有一定的意义。     

Dual chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection

Dual hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common in HBV or HCV endemic areas. However, several clinical and pathogenetic issues remain unresolved. First, clinical and in vitro studies suggest the interactions between two viruses. The dynamics of the interaction in untreated setting versus treated setting and its influence on the long-term outcomes await further studies. A key issue regarding viral interactions is whether modulation of infection occurs in the same dually infected individual hepatocyte of the liver. Clarifying this issue may help to understand the reciprocal interference between HCV and HBV and provide clues for future immunopathogenetic studies. Second, the prevalence and clinical significance of coexisting occult HBV infection in patients with chronic HCV infection need further investigations. Third, combination therapy of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin appears to be just as effective and safe for the treatment of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients chronically infected with active chronic hepatitis C as it is in patients with HCV monoinfection. Nevertheless, one-third of dually infected patients with nondetectable serum HBV DNA-level pretreatment developed HBV reactivation posttreatment. How to prevent and treat this reactivation should be clarified. Furthermore, about 10% of the dually infected patients lost HBsAg. Underlying mechanisms await further investigations. Finally, the optimal treatment strategies for dually infected patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B should be identified in future clinical trials.     

HCV基因型对慢性丙型肝炎干扰素疗效的影响

目的 探讨HCV基因型对慢性丙型肝炎的干扰素（IFN）治疗效果的影响。方法 采用随机、开放和对照的多中心临床试验设计。208例受试者按1：1随机分到聚乙二醇干扰素α—2a(Peg-IFN）组和IFN-α-2a组。在治疗之前，用Simmonds基因分型法酶切分型，在治疗24周结束和完成24周的随访后检测患者的ALT和HCV RNA，以HCV RNA的阴转率作为主要评价指标，经ITT人群的统计学分析。结果 202例患者确定了HCV基因型，基因1型158例（78.2%），非基因1型44例（21.8%），治疗结束病毒应答率（ETVR）和持续病毒应答率（SVR）基因1型患者分别为53.8%和25.3%，非基因1型患者分别为61.4%和43.2%，SVR两组患者差异有显著性，x^2=5.313,P=0.021。Peg IFN组基因1型和非1型患者的ETVR分别为76.8%和81.0%，SVR分别为35.4%和66.7%，SVR两组患者差异有显著性，x^2=6.735,P=0.01。病毒复发率基因1型和非基因1型患者分别为55.6%和23.5%，差异有显著性，x^2=5.496,P=0.02.IFN-α-2a组，ETVR和SVR基因1型患者分别为29.0%和14.5%，非基因1型患者分别43.5%和21.7%，差异无显著性。病毒复发率基因1型患者为72.7%，非基因1型患者为50.0%，差异无显著性。结论 IFN对基因1型丙型肝炎患者的疗效低于非基因1型，HCV基因型主要影响IFN对慢性丙型肝炎的持续应答，也与药物和IFN的疗程相关。     

Cascade of care for children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presents a significant global public health burden. In 2015, over 400000 deaths worldwide were attributed to HCV infection. This led the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016 to set the ambitious goal of eliminating HCV by 2030. Adult-centered guidelines have been established in order to provide direction for healthcare professionals, allowing integration of the newest screening policies and therapeutic strategies into their practices. However, for children and adolescents, HCV is a significant, unrecognized public health problem. HCV infection rates in the United States in women of childbearing age and those who are pregnant have increased in parallel with the rising opioid epidemic. An estimated 29000 women with HCV infection gave birth each year from 2011 to 2014 in the United States, with approximately 1700 of their infants being infected with HCV. Newer HCV-specific therapeutics, namely direct acting antivirals (DAA), has brought a new and highly successful approach to treatment of hepatitis C. Recent studies have confirmed similar levels of effectiveness and safety of DAA therapies in the pediatric population. Thus, an enhanced cascade of care, which should include the population under 18 years of age, can help achieve the WHO goal by focusing on elimination in the youngest populations. This review will present an overview of the natural history, clinical features, and management of HCV in children and adolescents.     

成年慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV负荷与肝组织病理学改变的相关性

目的：探讨成年慢性丙型肝炎患者血清HCV－RNA水平与其肝组织病理学损伤程度的相关性。方法随机选择42例成年慢性丙型肝炎患者,检测其血清HCV－RNA水平,并作肝穿刺活检,光镜多视野观察其肝组织病理学损伤。结果随着成年慢性丙型肝炎患者血清HCV－RNA水平升高,其肝组织病理学损伤程度加重不明显（P＞0．005）。结论,慢性成年丙型肝炎患者HCV负荷与其肝组织病理学改变无相关性。     

慢性丙型肝炎的组织学特点和分类

目的研究慢性丙型肝炎的组织病理学特点和新的病变程度的分类，并与慢性乙型肝炎作比较。方法对４９例慢性丙型肝炎和４５例慢性乙型肝炎的肝组织标本，由三位病理科医师双盲读片，记录主要的组织学改变，并根据新老慢性肝炎分类评估。结果慢性丙型肝炎最为突出的组织学改变为肝脂肪变（６１％）、胆管损害（５７％）、肝窦内炎症细胞（４７％）和淋巴细胞聚集（４３％），均较慢性乙型肝炎多见，差异有显著性。本组病例按新的国际分级、分期与传统的慢活肝、慢迁肝的分类比较，二者之间有一定的相关性，但前者更能准确反映病变的程度。结论新的慢性肝炎的组织学分类法优于传统的分类法。值得推广。     

慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV基因型分析

目的研究慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV基因型概况。方法采用基因芯片法检测HCV基因分型;采用PCR法测定HCV RNA定量。结果在570例患者中,HCV RNA阳性552例（95%）,其中1b型400例（72.4%）,2a型63例（11.4%）,3a型20例（3.6%）,3b型20例（3.6%）,1b＋2a型12例（2.1%）,1a型2例（0.4%）,6型7例（1.26%）,1b＋3a型1例（0.18%）,2a＋1b型3例（0.5%）,未定型24例（4.3%）;不同HCV基因型感染者血清HCVRNA水平无统计学差异（P〉0.05）。结论本组患者HCV基因型以1b型为主,2a型次之,多种混合型的出现提示HCV基因型呈现多样化趋势。     

Pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin for children with chronic hepatitis C

AIM:To study current treatment options for pediatric hepatitis C infection and their associated success rates.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed charts of thirty children who had been treated with combination therapy of pegylated interferon alfa plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C infection.Patients had been treated with ribavirin(15 mg/kg per day) and either pegylated interferon alfa 2a(180 mg/m 2 once weekly) or pegylated interferon alfa 2b(1.5 mg/kg once weekly).Patients’ follow-up included subjective assessment of complaints,physical examination including weight and height,as well as laboratory evaluations for viral load [before treatment,at 12 wk,and 6 mo following treatment completion,as determined by sustained viral response(SVR)],complete blood count,liver enzymes,alkaline phosphatase,bilirubin,renal function tests,and thyroid function tests.For patients not achieving a two log decrease in viral load at treatment week 12,treatment was discontinued and the patient was considered a treatment non-responder.RESULTS:Thirty children aged 3-18 years were included in the study.Twenty patients(11 males,9 females) received pegylated interferon alfa 2b and ten patients(6 males,4 females) received pegylated interferon alfa 2a.Twenty-three patients were infected with genotype 1,six patients were infected with genotype 3,and one patient was infected with genotype 2.Twenty patients(67%) achieved SVR.Treatment success rates were 90% with pegylated interferon alfa 2a vs 55% with pegylated interferon alfa 2b.Although a trend was noted for improved outcomes in the group receiving pegylated interferon alfa 2a,there were no statistically significant outcome differences between the two treatment groups(P = 0.1).Treatment success was 56.5% for patients infected with genotype 1 virus,compared to 100% for patients infected with other genotypes(P = 0.064).There was no difference in treatment response between males and females.A cut-off age of twelve years was used to dichotomize younger vs older participants;however,no diff     

干扰素在慢性丙型肝炎抗病毒治疗中的应用

自干扰素（IFN）进入临床以来，慢性丙型肝炎的治疗经过几次飞跃式的发展。2000年以前是普通IFN的时代。慢性丙型肝炎的治疗以IFN单药治疗为主，但24周的有效率只有约12％，48周的有效率为15％～22％。从1992年开始，IFN与利巴韦林的联合应用，将治疗48周的持续病毒学应答率（SVR）提高到了41％。但普通IFN血清浓度波动大，可能导致较重的不良反应或病毒重新复制和反跳，从而限制了其应用。2000年，聚乙二醇化干扰素（PEG-IFN）用于治疗慢性丙型肝炎，为慢性丙型肝炎患者的治疗提供了新的选择。[第一段]     

慢性丙型肝炎患者自身抗体检测的临床意义

目的 探讨慢性丙型肝炎患者自身抗体检测的临床意义.方法 应用ELISA方法检测117例慢性丙型肝炎患者血清中自身抗体,并比较其与HCV RNA、肝硬化发生率、年龄、性别的关系.结果 117例慢性丙型肝炎患者中有55例至少有1项自身抗体阳性,总阳性率为47.00%,明显高于健康对照组(6.66%,P＜O.01).HCV RNA阳性组与HCVRNA阴性组自身抗体的检出率无显著性差异(P＞O.05).自身抗体阳性组中丙型肝炎肝硬化发生率(40/55)明显高于自身抗体阴性组(31/62)(P＜O.01).自身抗体阳性组中≥40岁的患者比例明显高于自身抗体阴性组(P＜0.05).两组间性别比较,差异无统计学意义.结论 慢性丙型肝炎患者中普遍存在自身免疫现象,自身抗体的检出率与患者的年龄和肝硬化发生率明显相关.在常规诊疗中检测自身抗体,对于慢性丙型肝炎患者的诊断和治疗具有一定的指导意义.