Hepatitis C is a global health problem that causes 700,000 deaths per year. In Bangladesh, 1% of the population has HCV. New guidelines recommend screening high-risk groups and treating with direct-acting antiviral drugs, which have cure rates over 90% and shorter treatment durations compared to previous interferon-based regimens. Proper treatment can prevent cirrhosis, liver cancer and death from HCV. While challenges remain, scientists hope to eliminate HCV globally by 2030 with new pan-genotypic drugs. Prevention through injection safety, screening blood products, and educating healthcare workers is also important to control the disease.

1. Hepatitis C
A NEW FUTURE EVERYDAY
Dr.S.M.Nazmul Alam
Medicine,Orange Unit
Resident,Oncology
BSMMU.

2. Source
AASLD(American Association for the Study of
Liver Disease) Guidelines updated on
February,2016
WHO Guidelines updated on April,2016
EASL(European Association for the Study of
Liver Disease) Guidelines updated on
September,2016

3. Introduction
Globally,the morbidity and mortality
attributable to hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection
continues to increase.About 700000 persons
die in each year.
In Bangladesh 1 percentage of total
population are suffering from HCV.
Consequently,the field of HCV therapeutics
continues to evolve rapidly as well Since 1989
to 2016.

4. The virus and distribution of
genotypes
The HCV is a spherical,single
stranded RNA enveloped
Flavivirus.
It has a highly variable
genome,classified into six
genotypic group.
Genotype 1 is the most
common,accounting for
46.2% of all HCV
infections,followed by
genotype 3(30.1%)

5. Global Distribution of Genotypes of HCV

6. Natural History…
Cirrhosis(15-30%)
Hepatocellular carcinoma(2-4%) Decompensated cirrhosis
Chronic infection(55-85%)
Mild fibrosis Moderate to severe fibrosis
HCV infection
Spontaneous resolution(15-45%) .

7. Highlights of 2016 Recommendations
1. Screening
2. Assessment for HCV treatment
3. Clinical assessment or care of patients
4. Treatment of Chronic HCV infection
5. Treatment in special situations
6. Prevention

8. Recommendations on Screening
HCV serology testing be offered to individuals
who are part of a population with high HCV
seroprevalence or who have a history of HCV
risk exposure/behaviour(A1).
 Such as
IV drug misuser.
Medical or Dental interventions.
Unscreened Blood Product.
Vertical transmission
Person with HIV infection

9. How to confirm?
Detection of anti-HCV antibodies(A1).
If anti-HCV antibodies are detected,HCV RNA or
alternatively core antigen should be determined
to identify patients with on-going infection(A1).
Anti-HCV positive,HCV RNA-negative individuals
should be informed that they do not have
evidence of current(active) infection,but should
retested 3 months later to confirm definitive
clearance(A1)

10. Goals and Endpoints of Treatment
The goal of therapy is to cure HCV infection to
prevent hepatic cirrhosis,decompensation of
cirrhosis,HCC,severe extra hepatic manifestation
and death(A1).
Success of treatment measured by Sustained
Virological Response(SVR) has steadily increased.
The endpoint of therapy is undetectable HCV
RNA in blood(<15IU/ml) by 12 weeks(SVR12) and
/or 24 weeks(SVR24) after the end of
treatment(A1).

11. The benefits of treatment clearly
outweighed the potential harms
Virological cure (SVR) offers:
-A decrease in liver inflammation.
-Regression fibrosis,resolution of cirrhosis.
-Portal hypertention,splenomegaly,and other
clinical manifestation also improve.
-More than 70% reduction in the risk of liver
cancer(HCC) & a 90% reduction in the risk of
liver related mortality and liver transplantaion.

12. Clinical Assessment
Severity of the disease
Staging of the disease
Genotype

13. Severity of Disease

14. Standard laboratory tests prior to
treatment initiation include
A full blood count(CBC),
International normalized ratio(INR),
Renal function,
Liver function tests:ALT,AST,bilirubin,albumin
& alkaline phosphatase,
Thyroid function test.

15. Staging:the degree of liver fibrosis
and cirrhosis
Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard
method for fibrosis assessment.
Several liver biopsy scoring system have been
developed of which the METAVIR system is
most widely used.
METAVIR
stage
F0 F1 F2 F3 F4
Defination No fibrosis Portal
fibrosis
without
septa
Portal
fibrosis
with septa
Numerous
septa
without
cirrhosis
Cirrhosis

16. Staging:the degree of liver fibrosis
and cirrhosis
But,liver biopsy is not widely used in low-
income countries for
-high cost,
-invasiveness,
-patient discomfort
-risk of complications.
-need for expert histological interpretion.
So,Non-invasive methods are recommended
for low income countries.

17. Components of Non Invasive Tests
Test Component
Fibroscan Transient elastography
APRI AST,Platelets
FIB-4 Age,AST,ALT,Platelets

18. Genotype Testing
The 2016 Guidelines provide
recommendations on the preferred &
alternative Direct Acting Antiviral(DAA)
regimens by HCV genotype.
Therefore knowing a patients genotype is still
important for determining the most
appropriate treatment regimen.
So genotype have no effect on progression of
disease but does effect response of treatment.

19. Recommendations on Treatment

20. Evolution of Treatment
Discovery of
HCV,1989
IFN
alpha,1991,S
VR<20%
Addition
ribavirin,199
8,SVR-40%
Peg-IFN
mono,2001,S
VR-40%
Peg-
IFN+RBV,gold
stand,2002
SVR >55%
DAA,2013,SV
R>90%

21. The Direct Acting Anti-Viral Agents…
Oral medicines that directly inhibited the
replication cycle of HCV.
These medicines
-have higher SVR than interferon-based
regimens,
-shorter in treatment duration(as short as 12
weeks),
-orally administered,
-have fewer side-effects.

22. Classes of DAAs licensed for the treatment
of HCV(as of october 2015)
Asunaprevir Paritaprevir Simeprevir
Daclatasvir Ledipasvir Ombitasvir
Sofosbuvir Dasabuvir Velpatasvir(2016)

23. Removal of recommendation for
treatment with teleprevir or
boceprevir
The use of this two 1st generation DAA is no
longer recommended for the treatment of
persons with hepatitis C infection(B1)
Because of
-Require co-adminstration of IFN(weekly inj.),
-Intensive laboratory monitoring,
-Longer duration of therapy with lots of side
effect.

24. Summary of recommended preferred
regimens with treatment durations

25. Summary of recommended preferred
regimens with treatment durations

26. Summary of recommended
alternative regimens with treatment
durations

27. Summary of recommended
alternative regimens with treatment
durations

28. Contraindications/warning:
Therpy with DAA
• Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir – Amiodarone co-
adminstration,renal failure(eGFR<30 ml/min)
• Ombitasvir/dasabuvir/paritaprevir/simeprevir-
child-pugh class B & C cirrhosis.
Therapy with RBV
• Pregnancy,severe infection,COPD.
Therapy with Peg-INF
Uncontrolled depression,epilepsy,autoimmune
disease+RBV warning.

29. Common adverse effect of DAA
Fatigue
Headache
Nausea
Pruritis
Mild to moderate rashes.
Insomnia.

30. Monitoring of Patients on
Treatment

31. Treatment Picture in Bangladesh &
South Asia
In Bangladesh,since February,2015 patients
received Sofosbuvir containg regimens along with
RBV &/or Peg-INF,have mostly clear HCV &achieved
SVR at 24 weeks.
Introduction of Daclatasvir since September,2015 &
Ledipasvir further improved the management,with
excellent initial results.
Managing Genotype 3,which is more prevalent in
this area & is difficult to treat,newer DAAs have
overcome this problem.
• Source-Bangladesh J Medicine 2016,27:74-77

32. HCV in Special Situations

33. Persons with HIV/HCV co infection:
• DAA therapy can be given,SVR>95%,but drug
drug interaction should be checked.
Children and Adolescents:
• None of the DAA have been approved,
• Only approved treatment peg-IFN/RBV older
than 2 years.
Persons with CKD(eGFR<30 ml/min/1.73m2):
• RBV and peg-IFN require dose adjustment.
Persons with TB/HCV co infection:
• Active TB should be treated first.

34. Prevention

35. WHO guidance on prevention of HCV
infection
Hand hygiene:including surgical hand
preparation,use of gloves(for health care giver)
Use of sterile disposable syringes and needle.
Adequate sterilization,Safe handling & disposal
of sharps & waste.
Screening of donated blood and blood products.
Improve access to safe blood.
Identification & treatment of carriers.
Training of health personel

36. Conclusion
Due to availability of very effective oral
medications with a high sustained virological
response,scientists working in this field are
hopeful to eradicate HCV infection from the
planet in future.
DAAs which are pan-genotypic are great hope
to achieve “NOhep” within 2030.
Properly addressing the global burden with
appropriate management to combat HCV
infection surely mark great advancement
towards a newer and better future.

37. THANK YOU ALL
FOR
Attention,Commen
ts and Questions.