Treatment Curing Patients with Advanced Hepatitis C Symptoms

A medical breakthrough tested in San Antonio is opening doors for patients diagnosed with hepatitis C. 

The virus can be deadly, but now researchers say they've found a cure for those suffering from advanced stages of the disease.

People like Joey Libby.

Libby was just 15 years old when he was diagnosed with liver failure.

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CDC Warns of Rise in Hepatitis C Cases Linked to Injection-Drug Use

Reported Hep C cases in young people more than tripled from 2006 to 2012 in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, CDC study finds 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned about a sharp increase in hepatitis C infections linked to injection-drug abuse in four Appalachian states, and called for better health services to contain the spread.

Reported cases of acute hepatitis C infection in people ages 30 or under more than tripled from 2006 to 2012 in four states—Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia—according to a new study published by the CDC Thursday. Among patients for whom associated risk factors were reported, more than 70% reported injection-drug abuse.

During the same period, the number of people under 30 admitted to substance-abuse treatment facilities for opioid drugs grew by 21% in those states. A significant proportion of these people identified injection as their main method of drug use.

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Hepatitis Awareness Month and National Hepatitis Testing Day — May 2015

MMWR Weekly Vol. 64, No. 17 May 8, 2015

PDF of this issue

This month marks the 20th anniversary of Hepatitis Awareness Month and the 4th National Hepatitis Testing Day (May 19) in the United States. Although care and treatment can be life-saving, many of the 3 million persons estimated to be living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are unaware of their infection and are not receiving preventive services and medical management. In addition, an emerging epidemic of HCV infection among a new demographic of persons who inject drugs is unfolding in several areas throughout the nation. Guided by the goals of the 2014 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis (1), CDC continues its activities to expand access to HCV testing, care, and treatment to stem morbidity and mortality, and to reduce HCV infections caused by drug use behaviors. Efforts to address each of these strategic imperatives are highlighted by the two reports in this issue of MMWR.

The first report shows that trends in new cases of HCV infection are highly correlated with trends in substance abuse treatment admissions for opioid dependency and opioid injection in four states in the central Appalachian Region. The second report describes strategies for integrating HCV testing into primary care settings. These reports demonstrate how data can be used to identify patterns of risk for HCV transmission among persons who inject drugs and how programs can be successfully implemented to identify persons disproportionately affected by HCV infection and ensure they receive appropriate medical care and treatment.


Increases in Hepatitis C Virus Infection Related to Injection Drug Use Among Persons Aged ≤30 Years — Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, 2006–2012
Jon E. Zibbell, PhD, Kashif Iqbal, MPH, Rajiv C. Patel, MPH, et al.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015;64:453-8


Identification and Linkage to Care of HCV-Infected Persons in Five Health Centers — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2012–2014
Catelyn Coyle, MPH, Kendra Viner, PhD, Elizabeth Hughes, DrPH, et al.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015;64:459-63

 

 

Reference

1. US Department of Health and Human Services. Combating the silent epidemic of viral hepatitis: action plan for the prevention, care, and treatment of viral hepatitis. Updated 2014–2016. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2015. Available at http://aids.gov/pdf/viral-hepatitis-action-plan.pdf .

 Source: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwr_wk.html

HCV Drugs, by Alan Franciscus, Editor-in-Chief

This month’s edition of HCV Drugs will be short due to the upcoming European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) conference.  Join us for extensive coverage on www.hcvadvocate.org for the latest news and the next edition of the HCV Advocate newsletter.   There is, however, important news included in this issue:  Merck is granted Breakthrough Therapy designation; phase 2 study results of AbbVie’s combo to treat genotype 4; and, lastly not really drug-related, a new study that is being sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that may finally help expand care and treatment to other medical providers. 

Merck
Just when we thought that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had rescinded Breakthrough Therapy designation for all HCV therapies – we were wrong—they have given it to Merck’s combination of grazoprevir plus elbasvir for the treatment of people with HCV genotype 1 who have end-stage renal (kidney) disease on hemodialysis and for people with HCV genotype 4.  The designation will allow for expedited review and approval. 

Comment:  These two groups are definitely in need of expedited review!  This is very good news for people living with hepatitis C.  Merck has this combination of medications in multiple studies. 

Source:  Company press release

AbbVie
Results from a small phase 2 trial was recently published in The Lancet.  The trial included 86 HCV genotype 4 patients who had never been treated (treatment naïve) as well as those who had been treated previously (treatment-experienced).  The patients were treated with ombitasvir (once-daily), paritaprevir/ritonavir—with and without ribavirin (twice daily) for 12 weeks. 

Forty-nine patients who had previously received treatment (treatment-experienced) received the AbbVie combination treatment plus ribavirin for 12 weeks. 

In the treatment-naïve group the cure rate was 100% in the group that received ribavirin and 91% in the group that did not receive ribavirin.  In the treatment-experienced group the cure rate was 100%.

Comment: More good news for patients—although genotype 4 is uncommon in the United States it is estimated that about 13% of the global population (mostly in Egypt) is infected with genotype 4.  However, when I conduct training workshops it always surprises me that there is usually one or more persons with genotype 4!

Source:  Hézode C et al. Ombitasvir plus paritaprevir plus ritonavir with or without ribavirin in treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients with genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C virus infection (PEARL-I): A randomised, open-label trial. Lancet 2015 Mar 30; [e-pub].

NIH
The NIH and the city of Washington, D. C., with support from the NIH Office of AIDS Research has launched a study that will include 600 patients with HCV or HIV/HCV coinfection.  Of the patients enrolled, 350 will continue with their current specialist, and 250 will be assigned to a primary care doctor, physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner for treatment.  The treatment will be Harvoni for two to six months. 

Comments:  There has always been a lack of medical providers to manage and treat people with hepatitis C.  This is increasingly becoming a problem due to the increased awareness, testing and treatments that are easier to tolerate and more effective.   Hopefully, this will show that more medical providers can safely and effectively manage and treat people with hepatitis C. 

Source:  NIH News press release

http://hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/2015/advocate0515.html#3

Putnam County Offering Free Hepatitis C Screening

BREWSTER, N.Y. —The Putnam County Department of Health is offering a full day of free Hepatitis C testing for all baby boomers on National Hepatitis Testing Day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 at the main health department office, 1 Geneva Road, Brewster.
No appointment is necessary.

Residents who can’t make the free testing day May 19 can call the health department at (845) 808-1390 for information about other free testing opportunities.

For more information, please visit the Putnam County Health Department here. 

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Hepatitis is a serious problem, warns the state of Tennessee

Hepatitis C is a deadly but treatable disease; that's why the Tennessee Department of Health is sharing a reminder about the importance of getting tested. May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, a perfect time to know your status and seek treatment if needed.

"There are three types of viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C; each are transmitted uniquely and cause separate illnesses," said Carolyn Wester, MD, MPH, TDH Medical Director, HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis. "Vaccines are available to prevent against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B infection. There is currently no vaccine to prevent against Hepatitis C so it's very important to find out if you're at risk."

Test can be conducted if you feel like you may have Hepatitis. Locally, you should contact the Rutherford County Health Department. The main office is in Murfreesboro at 100 West Burton Street. The phone number is (615) 898-7880.

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For the Health of it: Hep C on the rise in Chenango

Submitted by the Chenango County Health Department

CHENANGO COUNTY – The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has been steadily increasing in Chenango County in recent years. In 2010 there were 20 reported cases of the potentially deadly virus, and the number has increased to a reported 66 in 2014 alone.

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