HCV Clinical Practice: Few Referred for Treatment, Even Fewer Respond
In a large urban HIV clinic, fewer than 1% of coinfected individuals were successfully treated for HCV.
By Camilla S. Graham, MD, MPH
December 22, 2006
Covering:
Mehta SH et al., AIDS 2006 Nov 28; 20:2361-9
HCV-Positive Donor Hearts Associated with Worse Survival
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Free
A donated heart infected with hepatitis C virus conferred a survival disadvantage, even after adjustment for recipient illness severity, age, and pretransplant HCV status.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
December 13, 2006
Covering:
Gasink LB et al., JAMA 2006 Oct 18; 296:1843-50
Qamar AA and Rubin RH., JAMA 2006 Oct 18; 296:1900-1
Obesity and Diabetes Are Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Both overweight status and DM were associated independently with HCC in patients with cirrhosis.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
December 8, 2006
Covering:
N’Kontchou G et al., Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006 Aug; 4:1062-8
Adefovir and Entecavir Are Cost-Effective in Patients with HBV-Related Cirrhosis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Although adefovir and entecavir are more expensive than lamivudine, they are more cost-effective in this population.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
December 8, 2006
Covering:
Kanwal F et al., Am J Gastroenterol 2006 Sep; 101:2076-89
HCV Outbreak Caused by Contaminated Radiopharmaceutical Agent
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Sixteen cases of acute HCV infection were linked to contamination of a myocardial imaging radiopharmaceutical.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
December 6, 2006
Covering:
Patel PR et al., JAMA 2006 Oct 25; 296:2005-11
Spontaneous Clearance of Acute HCV Infection
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Infection cleared in 36% of patients, usually within 3 months of disease onset.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 29, 2006
Covering:
Santantonio T et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Nov 1; 43:1154-9
Pioglitazone for Treating Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Pioglitazone improved metabolic parameters and histology in NASH patients with diabetes in this small study.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
November 29, 2006
Covering:
Belfort R et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 30; 355:2297-307
Entecavir for Lamivudine-Resistant Chronic HBV Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Entecavir is useful for treating patients with LAM-R HBV infections, but some entecavir resistance emerged during 1 year of therapy.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
November 17, 2006
Covering:
Sherman M et al., Gastroenterology 2006 Jun; 130:2039-49
Detrimental Hepatic Effects of Smoking in Patients with HCV
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
About one in five patients who smoked had advanced fibrosis.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
November 17, 2006
Covering:
Dev A et al., Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006 Jun; 4:797-801
HBeAg-Negative HBV Carriers: Still at Risk?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
HBV DNA levels predicted the risks for hepatitis flare and hepatocellular cancer in a cohort of HBeAg-negative patients.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 15, 2006
Covering:
Ikeda K et al., Am J Med 2006 Nov; 119:977-85
Hepatitis E Widespread in Southern China
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Human hepatitis E virus infections have probably been occurring for decades in southern China; pigs are likely the main reservoir.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
November 8, 2006
Covering:
Li RC et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2006 Nov; 12:1682-8
Effect of HCV on Survival After Heart Transplantation
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Donor HCV seropositivity significantly decreases survival of heart-transplant recipients.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
November 8, 2006
Covering:
Gasink LB et al., JAMA 2006 Oct 18; 296:1843-50
Qamar AA and Rubin RH., JAMA 2006 Oct 18; 296:1900-1
Does 3TC Protect Against Liver-Related Death in HIV/HBV-Coinfected Patients?
Data from a retrospective study with 4 years of follow-up suggest yes.
By Rachel Baden, MD
October 30, 2006
Covering:
Puoti M et al., Antivir Ther 2006 ; 11:567-74
One Drug or Two for Hepatitis B in HIV-Coinfected Patients?
In HIV-HBV coinfected individuals, initial treatment with tenofovir + 3TC and sequential monotherapy with tenofovir after 3TC failure produced similar viral suppression rates, at least in the intermediate term.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
October 30, 2006
Covering:
Schmutz G et al., AIDS 2006 Oct 3; 20:1951-4
Liver Disease and Drug Metabolism
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Clinicians need to vary medication doses with the severity of liver disease and with how the drug is metabolized.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 30, 2006
Covering:
Frye RF et al., Clin Pharmacol Ther 2006 Sep; 80:235-45
Is Short-Duration Interferon Therapy Appropriate for Patients with Genotype 1 Hepatitis C?
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Rapid response to therapy and low baseline HCV RNA levels predicted successful 24-week treatment.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
October 6, 2006
Covering:
Jensen DM et al., Hepatology 2006 May; 43:954-60
Natural History of Hepatitis C–Related Cirrhosis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
This long-term study of 214 untreated patients provides valuable data that will be useful in counseling patients.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
October 6, 2006
Covering:
Sangiovanni A et al., Hepatology 2006 Jun; 43:1303-10
Liver-Related Deaths in HIV Patients
In a study conducted in resource-rich countries, about 15% of HIV patients died of liver-related causes, and these deaths were strongly associated with advanced immunodeficiency.
By Camilla S. Graham, MD, MPH
September 11, 2006
Covering:
The Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs Study Group., Arch Intern Med 2006 Aug 14/28; 166:1632-41
Liver Fibrosis in HIV/HCV–Coinfected Patients with Normal ALT
Advanced fibrosis was much less common in HIV/HCV–coinfected patients with normal ALT levels than in those with high levels, but normal ALT was no guarantee of freedom from liver damage.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
September 11, 2006
Covering:
Sanchez-Conde M et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Sep 1; 43:640-4
HCV-Positive Patients with Normal Aminotransferase Levels
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
How does one manage patients with HCV infections who have normal aminotransferase levels?
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
September 8, 2006
Covering:
Persico M et al., J Viral Hepat 2006 May; 13:290-6
Shiffman ML et al., Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006 May; 4:645-52
Efficacy of 72-Week Treatment for Genotype 1 HCV-Positive Patients
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Overall, the SVR rate in genotype 1 HCV-positive patients did not improve with extended treatment.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
August 25, 2006
Covering:
Berg T et al., Gastroenterology 2006 Apr; 130:1086-97
Retreatment of HCV-Positive Nonresponders with Peginterferon and Ribavirin
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
In this prospective study of HCV-positive patients with previous nonresponse to interferon plus ribavirin, retreatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin led to an SVR rate of about 20%.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
August 25, 2006
Covering:
Taliani G et al., Gastroenterology 2006 Apr; 130:1098-106
HIV Treatment and HCV Viral Kinetics in Coinfected Patients
In a small prospective study, baseline HIV viral load was correlated with a rise in HCV RNA titers during antiretroviral therapy.
By Rachel Baden, MD
July 31, 2006
Covering:
Bower WA et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2006 Jul; 42:293-7
When the Metabolic Syndrome, HCV, and Mitochondrial Toxicity Meet in HIV: Hepatic Steatosis
Nearly 70% of HCV/HIV-coinfected patients in this study had hepatic steatosis, which was significantly associated with more-severe fibrosis.
By Camilla S. Graham, MD, MPH
August 7, 2006
Covering:
McGovern BH et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Aug 1; 43:365-72
Lamivudine Resistance in HIV/HBV-Coinfected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In HIV/HBV-coinfected patients who receive an extended course of lamivudine, development of lamivudine-resistant HBV is nearly inevitable.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
July 12, 2006
Covering:
Matthews GV et al., AIDS 2006 Apr 4; 20:863-70
