Hepatitis C viral RNA in blood mononuclear cells of patients treated with directly acting antivirals.
Directly acting antivirals
Hepatitis C virus
Secondary occult hepatitis C infection
Journal
Arab journal of gastroenterology : the official publication of the Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology
ISSN: 2090-2387
Titre abrégé: Arab J Gastroenterol
Pays: Egypt
ID NLM: 101298363
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2021
Jun 2021
Historique:
received:
15
09
2020
revised:
02
02
2021
accepted:
01
03
2021
pubmed:
7
4
2021
medline:
10
9
2021
entrez:
6
4
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Occult hepatitis C viral infection (OCI) may have serious complications, such as relapse, ongoing histological impairment, hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and the possible risk of transmission. This study was conducted to assess the occurrence and prevalence of secondary OCI in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) who received a complete course of directly acting antivirals (DAAs). Antiviral therapy consisted of sofosbuvir + daclatasvir ± ribavirin for 12 weeks to 90 treatment-naive, compensated, chronic HCV patients. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were tested for HCV RNA viral load by quantitative, reverse transcription, real-time PCR at 8, 12 (Group I, n = 45), and 24 (Group II, n = 45) weeks after treatment initiation. By week 8, only 2 and 7 patients were positive for HCV RNA in plasma and PBMCs, respectively. No HCV RNA was detected by weeks 12 or 24 in the PBMCs of Groups I and II, respectively. Older age was significantly associated with HCV RNA positivity in plasma and PBMCs (n = 8) at week 8 compared with HCV RNA negativity (n = 82). No other significant differences were observed for any other variables. The development of secondary OCI among easy-to-treat patients following a full course of DAA treatment doesn't exist, hence, we do not recommend testing the HCV RNA in the PBMCs after complete course of treatment in this patient category. The detection of HCV RNA in PBMCs is recommended as a confirmatory test of cure following a shortened DAA treatment regimen.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS
OBJECTIVE
Occult hepatitis C viral infection (OCI) may have serious complications, such as relapse, ongoing histological impairment, hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and the possible risk of transmission. This study was conducted to assess the occurrence and prevalence of secondary OCI in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) who received a complete course of directly acting antivirals (DAAs).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
METHODS
Antiviral therapy consisted of sofosbuvir + daclatasvir ± ribavirin for 12 weeks to 90 treatment-naive, compensated, chronic HCV patients. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were tested for HCV RNA viral load by quantitative, reverse transcription, real-time PCR at 8, 12 (Group I, n = 45), and 24 (Group II, n = 45) weeks after treatment initiation.
RESULTS
RESULTS
By week 8, only 2 and 7 patients were positive for HCV RNA in plasma and PBMCs, respectively. No HCV RNA was detected by weeks 12 or 24 in the PBMCs of Groups I and II, respectively. Older age was significantly associated with HCV RNA positivity in plasma and PBMCs (n = 8) at week 8 compared with HCV RNA negativity (n = 82). No other significant differences were observed for any other variables.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
The development of secondary OCI among easy-to-treat patients following a full course of DAA treatment doesn't exist, hence, we do not recommend testing the HCV RNA in the PBMCs after complete course of treatment in this patient category. The detection of HCV RNA in PBMCs is recommended as a confirmatory test of cure following a shortened DAA treatment regimen.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33820724
pii: S1687-1979(21)00003-4
doi: 10.1016/j.ajg.2021.03.001
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Antiviral Agents
0
RNA, Viral
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
158-163Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.