HCV at a Crossroads:The Pre- or Post-Transplant Treatment Debate

HCV at a Crossroads:The Pre- or Post-Transplant Treatment Debate

Hello folks, great reading over at  Healio today, check out the June issue of "HCV Next."

"HCV Next" offers information on a range of topics, which include diagnosis, new combination therapies, side effects, drug/drug interaction, guidelines, fatty liver disease and more.

Table of Contents

5 QUESTIONS
A Conversation with Eric M. Yoshida, MD

COVER STORY

HCV at a Crossroads:The Pre- or Post-Transplant Treatment Debate
HCV Next spoke to several experts on liver transplantation and discussed the best time they believe to treat HCV is — before or after undergoing a liver transplant — and what providers should keep in mind when beginning therapy.

EDITORIAL
New Data Immediately Changes Practice in Renal Failure, Decompensated Cirrhosis
With new data presented at the International Liver Congress, practicing physicians now have the power to make informed recommendations for patients who were not included in original pivotal trials of direct-acting antiviral regimens, such as those in renal failure and with decompensated cirrhosis.

IN THE JOURNALS
Outcomes poor among HIV/HCV coinfected kidney transplant recipients

HCV Increases Mortality Among Patients with CKD

UNITY-1: Fixed-dose Combo Yields High SVR12 in HCV Patients Without Cirrhosis

MEETING NEWS COVERAGE

EASL Releases, Outlines 2015 HCV Recommendations
Key drug approvals in 2015 included the combination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir (Harvoni, Gilead Sciences) and the ‘3D regimen’ of ombitasvir, paritaprevir and ritonavir with or without dasabuvir (Viekira Pak, AbbVie).

“Drug-drug interactions are complex and difficult to deal with, particularly in patients with comorbidities,” Pawlotsky said. “I would recommend using the web resources the University of Liverpool have set up. It’s a very useful tool when you prescribe drugs.”

He added that the EASL document contains a number of tables outlining which drugs are approved in which populations along with contraindications and warnings.

SATURN: Simeprevir, Daclatasvir Show Efficacy in Transplant Population
Post-transplant patients responded favorably to treatment with Olysio and daclatasvir plus ribavirin, according to findings presented at the 2015 International Liver Congress.

Harvoni induces high response rates in genotype 4, 5 HCV
Patients with genotype 4 and 5 hepatitis C virus benefitted from treatment with Harvoni, according to findings presented at the 2015 International Liver Congress.

PATIENT PROFILE
Hepatitis C and End Stage Renal Disease
Catherine T. Frenette, MD

THE TAKE HOME

The International Liver Congress

HCV Next board members in attendance offered varying viewpoints on the data presented. Nancy S. Reau, MD, associate professor of medicine at The University of Chicago Medical Center; Michael R. Charlton, MD, FRCP,professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. and director of hepatology at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah; andMitchell L. Shiffman, MD, head of the Liver Institute of Virginia, shared their thoughts on the most compelling data and topics discussed at this year’s meeting.

TREND WATCH
HCV Increases Among Younger Patients who Inject Drugs in Appalachia
The data from the four states showed a 364% increase in acute HCV infection for those aged younger than 30 years. While significant increases in HCV infections in both urban and nonurban areas were found, more than double the rate of cases occurred in nonurban areas, the researchers wrote.

Barriers may Affect Engagement of PCPs, Patients for Proper Treatment of HCV, HBV