In this podcast, Dr. Hemant Shah and Dr. Jordan Feld discuss a clinical practice guideline from the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver on the management of chronic hepatitis C. The guideline is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
CMAJ Vol. 190, Issue 22 4 Jun 2018
The management of chronic hepatitis C: 2018 guideline update from the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver
Hemant Shah, Marc Bilodeau, Kelly W. Burak, Curtis Cooper, Marina Klein, Alnoor Ramji, Dan Smyth and Jordan J. Feld; for the Canadian Association for the Study of the LiverCMAJ June 04, 2018 190 (22) E677-E687; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.170453
A recent modelling study suggested that about 252 000 Canadians (uncertainty interval: 178 000–315 000 Canadians) were chronically infected in 2013. The birth cohort of 1945–1975 has the highest prevalence of chronic HCV infection, yet it is estimated that up to 70% of this group have not been tested for HCV
KEY POINTS
Hepatitis C is a major public health problem in Canada that is underdiagnosed and undertreated; birth cohort screening would benefit population health outcomes.Pretreatment evaluation of an infected patient should include clinical evaluation, viral load, genotype and a fibrosis stage assessment.
The treatment of hepatitis C has become safer, better tolerated and more effective owing to the availability of direct-acting antivirals for nearly all patients; this guideline advocates against the use of any interferon-based treatment regimens and for the use of all-oral regimens for all infected patients.
The treatment of infected patients should be individualized to maximize chance of success, especially for difficult-to-cure populations, including patients with renal failure, decompensated cirrhosis, and active substance use disorders.
After treatment, the follow-up of successfully treated patients depends on whether they are cirrhotic; patients with cirrhosis require life-long surveillance for the development of hepatocellular cancer.
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a highly burdensome public health problem in Canada, causing more years of life lost than any other infectious disease in the country. 1–3 A recent modelling study suggested that about 252 000 Canadians (uncertainty interval: 178 000–315 000 Canadians) were chronically infected in 2013. The birth cohort of 1945–1975 has the highest prevalence of chronic HCV infection, yet it is estimated that up to 70% of this group have not been tested for HCV.4
Although the overall prevalence of chronic hepatitis C is declining, complications of the disease are increasing because of aging of the infected population and progression of liver fibrosis.1–3 Modelling data suggest that if nothing is done to change the current situation, cases of decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver-related mortality will increase by 80%, 205% and 160%, respectively, by 2035 compared with 2013 levels.2
The primary objective of anti-HCV therapy is complete eradication of the virus, termed a sustained virologic response, which is defined as absence of viremia 12 weeks after completion of therapy. 5 Once achieved, sustained virologic response is considered a true cure of the viral infection, as late relapses are very uncommon. 6,7 Sustained virologic response is associated with long-term health benefits that include improved quality of life8,9 and liver histology, 10,11 and reduced incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma,12 liver-related morbidity and mortality,13–15 and all-cause mortality.12
Since the last Canadian guideline on the management of chronic HCV infection from the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver was published in 2015,16 there have been remarkable treatment advances. Thus, there was a need for an updated, evidence-based guideline.
Continue reading: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/190/22/E677
In The News
Hepatitis C testing recommended for Canadians born between 1945 and 1975
More than 250,000 Canadians are believed to be infected with hepatitis C, but 40 to 70 per cent are unaware they harbour the blood-borne virus. The Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver, a national group of health-care providers and researchers, published its guidelines on testing and treating hepatitis C in Monday’s edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Continue reading: http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/hepatitis-c-testing-recommended-for-canadians-born-between-1945-and-1975
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