Journal of Viral Hepatitis最新文献

{"title":"Hepatitis B Patients' Adherence to Treatment in Relation to Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) in the West Bank, Palestine, 2022–2023","authors":"Ayham Sawalmeh,&nbsp;Emily White Johansson,&nbsp;Danis Kostas,&nbsp;Dia'a Hjaijeh","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14055","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14055","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hepatitis B is an infectious disease that inflicts high health and economic costs on the healthcare system. Poor adherence to treatment increases that cost. We aimed to assess the levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among patients in the West Bank, Palestine, and identify factors associated with good adherence. We conducted a cross-sectional study surveying hepatitis B patients visiting primary healthcare during October 2022 until June 2023 using an interviewer-administered questionnaire covering qualitative and quantitative aspects regarding hepatitis B. We considered adherence as good if participants received &gt; 90% of their monthly prescription antiviral doses. Among 386 participants, the median age was 45 years (range 20–81); 80% had good adherence to treatment. Mean knowledge score was 11.4 (on a 13-point scale), mean attitude score was 3.4 (on a 4-point scale), mean practices score was 6 (on a 7-point scale) and the mean overall KAP score was 21.8 (on a 24-point scale). KAP components (Cronbach alpha = 0.820) were correlated with good adherence (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). After adjustment for other factors, participants with good KAP scores had better adherence to treatment than those without (prevalence ratio: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.10–1.84, <i>p</i>-value = 0.011). We recommend investment in education and awareness campaigns to improve adherence.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11667092/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interaction Between Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Alcohol in the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Jalal Poorolajal,&nbsp;Yahya Shadi,&nbsp;Bahram Heshmati","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14042","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14042","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The objective of this report is to provide clarification on the interaction among hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and alcohol in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases up to July 18, 2023. The inclusion criteria involved observational studies that examined the relationship between HBV, HCV, alcohol use and the development of HCC. To assess between-study heterogeneity, the <i>I</i>² statistics were employed. Publication bias was evaluated using the Begg and Egger tests. The effect sizes were estimated as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) utilising a random-effects model. Among the initial pool of 31,021 studies identified, 28 studies involving 42,406 participants met the inclusion criteria. Through our meta-analysis, we found that the combined effect of HBV and alcohol was associated with an OR of 14.56 (95% CI: 9.80, 21.65). The combined impact of HCV and alcohol showed an OR of 42.44 (95% CI: 20.11, 89.56). Coinfection with both HBV and HCV was associated with an OR of 32.58 (95% CI: 20.57, 51.60). These results emphasising the importance of reducing alcohol consumption and implementing effective viral hepatitis prevention and treatment.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Course of COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis Delta","authors":"Yavuz Emre Parlar,&nbsp;Müge Özarı Gülnar,&nbsp;Beril Kırmızıgül,&nbsp;Genco Gençdal,&nbsp;Müjdat Zeybel,&nbsp;Onur Keskin,&nbsp;Cihan Yurdaydın","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14054","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14054","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), older age and co-morbidities are associated with mortality. Among liver disease aetiologies alcoholic liver disease was associated with mortality. Chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) had not been studied. The current study explores course of COVID-19 disease in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and CHD. This retrospective study included CHB and CHD patients from the gastroenterology departments of Hacettepe and Koç University Hospitals. COVID-19 was confirmed via PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Data on liver disease severity, including MELD-Na and Child-Pugh scores, as well as vaccination status, were collected. A total of 618 patients (343 M/275 F) were evaluated, comprising 540 CHB patients (27 [5%] cirrhotic) and 78 CHD patients (43 [55%] cirrhotic). COVID-19 was diagnosed in 47 CHB patients (8.7%) and 12 CHD patients (15.4%), <i>p</i> = NS. Hepatic reactivation occurred in 3 CHB patients (6.3%) and 4 CHD patients (33%), (<i>p</i> = 0.018). Reactivation was more frequent in cirrhotic patients than non-cirrhotic patients (50% vs. 4%, <i>p</i> = 0.0009). One cirrhotic CHB patient decompensated, while one cirrhotic CHD patient died and another developed hepatic decompensation. The majority of cirrhotic CHB patients (96.3%) were receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), whereas only one cirrhotic CHD patient was on treatment for Hepatitis D virus (HDV). Although the small number of CHD patients and COVID-19-positive cases limits definitive conclusions, CHD patients may experience a more severe course of COVID-19 compared to CHB patients. This may be due to the higher proportion of cirrhotics among CHD patients and the lack of effective antiviral treatment for HDV.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hepatitis B Care and Treatment in Zanzibar, Tanzania: A Demonstration Project Following 2015 WHO Treatment Guidelines, 2017–2021","authors":"Sanaa S. Said,&nbsp;Shaun Shadaker,&nbsp;Brian J. McMahon,&nbsp;Paige A. Armstrong,&nbsp;Geoff A. Beckett,&nbsp;Saleem Kamili,&nbsp;Aaron M. Harris","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.14051","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Zanzibar, a low-resource semiautonomous region of Tanzania, has an estimated prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections of 3.6%. To assess the feasibility of care and treatment, a 5-year hepatitis B demonstration project was implemented in Zanzibar during January 2017–December 2021, following the 2015 WHO HBV care and treatment guidelines. Participants included adults (aged ≥ 18 years) who tested positive for HBV surface antigen and tested negative for HIV and hepatitis C antibody. Participants were examined for clinical signs of liver disease and testing was conducted at baseline to assess treatment eligibility and every 6–12 months thereafter. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) was provided at no cost to treatment-eligible participants. Clinical and laboratory data were analysed to assess improvement in proximal disease outcomes. Among 596 participants enrolled, the median age was 32 years (IQR 26–39) and 365 (61%) were male. Of those enrolled, 268 (45%) returned for ≥ 1 follow-up visit, with a median of 511 days of follow-up. Overall, 58 patients initiated treatment: 15 met treatment criteria based on liver cirrhosis alone; 13 by APRI &gt; 1.5; among those with HBV DNA results, six met criteria based on HBV DNA levels and ALT activity; 24 met ≥ 2 criteria. Significant decreases in ALT activities, APRI scores and HBV DNA levels were observed among those treated. This hepatitis B care and treatment programme was demonstrated to be feasible in a low-resource setting. Despite challenges, testing and linkage to care is critical to decrease the global burden of hepatitis B.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142861882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Health Systems Strengthening Approach to Address the High Burden of Hepatitis C in Pakistan","authors":"Mahnoor Qureshi","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.14050","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hepatitis C virus infection is a serious liver disease that can progress to cirrhosis and, in chronic cases, lead to liver cancer or liver failure. Pakistan has the second highest burden of HCV in the world, a rising number of liver cancer cases and a unique pattern of healthcare-associated HCV transmission. Unfortunately, the country is not on track to meet the WHO's target of complete elimination of HCV by 2030. The current reliance on vertical programmes for hepatitis elimination may seem effective in the short term, but is often unsustainable, ineffective and contributes to the fragmentation of the health system. This review proposes a health system strengthening approach to HCV detection and prevention in the country. It critically evaluates the country's health system and the existing evidence on HCV prevention and treatment, proposing evidence-based strategies for decentralising HCV services and integrating them into the primary healthcare infrastructure. It examines the effectiveness of methods such as task shifting and targeted interventions while suggesting changes to healthcare practices to reduce healthcare-associated transmission of HCV and other blood-borne pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jvh.14050","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142861883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Misuse of the Lower Limit of Detection in HBV DNA Testing and Anti-HBe Positive Status Will Significantly Impact the Diagnosis of Occult HBV Infection","authors":"Bo Wang,&nbsp;Xinru Wang,&nbsp;Li Xiao,&nbsp;Jianchun Xian","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14046","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14046","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The diagnosis of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is influenced by factors such as the lower limit of detection (LOD) of the HBV DNA test. However, in clinical practice and scientific research, the lower limit of quantification (LOQ) is often misused as the LOD. This study aims to investigate the impact of misuse of the LOD of the HBV DNA test on the detection rate of OBI, as well as the risk factors for OBI. Four hundred twelve patients who were HBsAg-negative and had undergone high-sensitivity HBV DNA testing were included in this study. HBV DNA was detected using the Cobas 6800 System with an LOD of 2.4 IU/mL and an LOQ of 10 IU/mL. The effect of using the LOQ as the LOD on the detection rate of OBI was compared, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the risk factors for OBI. (1) Of the 412 patients, 63.3% (<i>n</i> = 261) were male, with a median age of 47 (range 34–55) years. A total of 473 HBV DNA test results were obtained, with 366 individuals undergoing only one HBV DNA test and the remaining 46 patients undergoing 2 to 5 HBV DNA tests (resulting in a total of 107 test results). (2) Considering only the first HBV DNA test result, the detection rate of OBI was 4.1% (17/412). However, when the LOQ (10 IU/mL) was used as the LOD, the detection rate of OBI was only 1.5% (6/412) (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). (3) Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in age, anti-HBe positivity rate and anti-HBc positivity rate between OBI and non-OBI individuals (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that anti-HBe positivity was an independent risk factor for OBI in this study (odds ratio [OR] = 3.807, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.065–13.617, <i>p</i> = 0.040), while anti-HBs positivity was a protective factor against OBI (OR = 0.271, 95% CI: 0.093–0.787, <i>p</i> = 0.016). (4) Among the 46 patients who underwent repeated testing, a total of seven individuals were found to be HBV DNA-positive in the first test, and six individuals tested positive for HBV DNA one or more times in subsequent tests. When OBI was confirmed by ≥ 1 out of 1–5 tests with detectable HBV DNA, the detection rate of OBI in this study could increase from 4.1% to 5.6%. The detection rate of OBI among HBsAg-negative adult patients attending hepatology departments in this region is 4.1%. Misusing the LOQ as LOD can significantly decrease the detection rate of OBI. The presence of anti-HBe positivity and undergoing multiple HBV DNA tests can lead to a significant increase in the detection rate of OBI.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictive Factors for HBsAg Loss in Chronic HBeAg-Negative Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Insights From a 5-Year French Cohort","authors":"Xavier Causse,&nbsp;Pascal Potier,&nbsp;Antoine Valéry,&nbsp;Hélène Labadie,&nbsp;Gilles Macaigne,&nbsp;Jean-François Cadranel,&nbsp;Thierry Fontanges,&nbsp;Lina Mouna,&nbsp;Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso,&nbsp;the PIBAC Study Group of Association Nationale des Hépato-Gastroentérologues des Hôpitaux Généraux (ANGH)","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14041","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14041","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Prognostic factors for the long-term evolution of chronic hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may vary depending on local epidemiology. We aimed to identify these factors in France, where the epidemiology is influenced by diverse immigration. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, HBeAg-negative adults with normal transaminase levels and viral loads &lt; 20,000 IU/mL for 1 year, without viral co-infection or advanced liver disease, were enrolled for a 5-year follow-up. A total of 564 patients were recruited from 23 centres (54.4% women, mean age 42.3 ± 12 years, 47.7% from sub-Saharan Africa). HBV DNA was detectable but &lt; 2000 IU/mL for most (71.3%). Genotypes E (27.8%) and A (20.0%) were predominant. The mean HBsAg titre was 3.8 ± 3.4 log IU/mL, &gt; 1000 IU/mL in 60% of cases, and higher in genotype E (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). During follow-up, 18 patients received antiviral treatment, 9 for viral reactivation (0.3% per year) and 9 preemptively. HBsAg loss occurred in 39 patients (1.4% per year). These patients were older (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001), more frequently treated for dyslipidemia, hypertension or diabetes (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), and had lower baseline HBV DNA (<i>p</i> = 0.0112) and HBsAg (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001), but similar levels of HBcrAg compared to those who did not clear HBsAg. Baseline HBsAg was the only independent predictor of HBsAg loss (<i>p</i> = 0.009). In this cohort, HBsAg &lt; 153 IU/mL predicted clearance with 87% sensitivity and specificity. In conclusion, baseline HBsAg accurately predicted seroclearance at 5 years in patients with chronic HBeAg-negative infection, regardless of genotype, sex, or geographical origin, indicating that this marker is widely applicable for reducing the frequency of patient monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11646079/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A US-Based Multi-Site Pilot to Screen Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive Patients for Hepatitis D","authors":"Maggie Li,&nbsp;Bijou Hunt,&nbsp;Bindu Balani,&nbsp;Chinwe Ogedegbe,&nbsp;Peter Gordon,&nbsp;Joshua Hayden,&nbsp;Nancy Glick,&nbsp;Anita Chang,&nbsp;Su Wang,&nbsp;Mitchell Caponi,&nbsp;Lisa Yarber-Cambron,&nbsp;Sandeep Bhat,&nbsp;Tyshea Ward,&nbsp;Madhu Suryadevara","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14043","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14043","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hepatitis D (HDV) is a severe infection with well-recognised clinical ramifications that remains relatively neglected and underdiagnosed; consequently, the epidemiology of HDV is poorly characterised, both in the United States and globally. In 2022, a pilot project involving eight healthcare institutions was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of HDV in healthcare institutions with an HBV seropositivity of at least 1%, describe the characteristics of patients testing positive for HDV, and evaluate diagnostic and laboratory processes of HDV screening. From August 2022 to April 2024, a total of 106,693 patients were tested for HBsAg, of whom 65,341 (61.2%) were female and 40,863 (38.3%) were male, with a mean age of 47 years. The overall HBsAg positivity rate was 1.04% (<i>n</i> = 1112). Among the HBsAg+ samples, 645 (58.0%) underwent HDV Ab testing. The HDV Ab positivity rate was 0.81% (<i>n</i> = 9), with 2 cases of HDV RNA positivity (0.18%). The incomplete testing reflects several challenges associated with screening for both HBV and HDV. Further research is necessary to better understand the epidemiology and burden of HDV in the United States and considerations for implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11638661/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142818510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Network Map of Intracellular Alpha-Fetoprotein Signalling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma","authors":"Krishnapriya Ramakrishnan,&nbsp;Diya Sanjeev,&nbsp;Niyas Rehman,&nbsp;Rajesh Raju","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14035","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14035","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is a glycoprotein of foetal origin belonging to the albumin protein family. Serum AFP is a long-conceived early-diagnostic biomarker for HCC with its elevated expression in different liver pathologies ranging from hepatitis viral infections to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC. Beyond their utility as biomarkers, in support of its contribution to these clinical outcomes, the function of AFP as an immune suppressor and inducer of malignant transformation in HCC patients is well reported. Multiple reports show that AFP is secreted by hepatocytes, binds to its cognate receptor, AFP-receptor (AFPR), and exerts its actions. However, there is only limited information available in this context. There is an urgent need to gather more insight into the AFP signalling pathway and consider it a classical intracellular signalling pathway, among others. AFP is a highly potent intracellular molecule that has the potential to bind to many interactors like PTEN, Caspase, RAR, and so on. It has been shown that cellular AFP and secreted AFP have different roles in HCC pathophysiology, and a comprehensive map of the AFP signalling pathway is warranted for further theranostic applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142818475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in Serum Rheumatoid Factor Following Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus Infection With Interferon or Direct Antiviral Therapy","authors":"Ying-Nan Tsai,&nbsp;Jamie Chieh Lo,&nbsp;Cheng-Hao Tseng,&nbsp;Song-Chou Hsieh,&nbsp;Wen-Chin Chiu,&nbsp;Chi-Ming Tai,&nbsp;Chi-Yang Chang,&nbsp;Fu-Jen Lee,&nbsp;Mindie H. Nguyen,&nbsp;Jaw-Town Lin,&nbsp;Yao-Chun Hsu","doi":"10.1111/jvh.14047","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jvh.14047","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a myriad of extrahepatic manifestations (EHM), as well as the production of autoantibodies, including rheumatoid factor (RF). This study aims to elucidate whether serum levels of RF change before and after HCV eradication, and whether these changes differ according to the type of therapy used. This is a retrospective cohort study of adults with chronic HCV infection treated with interferon-free or interferon-based regimens. All patients had HCV viremia at baseline and documented sustained virological response (SVR) 12 or 24 weeks after completing treatment. We measured the serum levels of RF at baseline and at SVR-12 or −24 to analyse the changes after eradication. This study enrolled 297 patients (median age, 59 years; female, 48.5%; cirrhosis, 16.8%). Among them, 78 (26.3%) were RF-positive by qualitative serology at baseline. This number decreased to 49 (16.5%) at SVR-12 or −24 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Quantitatively, the median RF also decreased from 1.6 IU/mL (interquartile range [IQR], undetectable—15.8) to undetectable (IQR, undetectable—6.6 IU/mL) (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Significant reductions were observed in both groups. The proportion with RF seropositivity decreased from 24.3% to 15.4% (<i>p</i> = 0.001) in patients treated with interferon-free agents (<i>n</i> = 214) and from 31.3% to 19.3% (<i>p</i> = 0.006) in patients treated with interferon-based regimens (<i>n</i> = 83), without significant difference between two groups (<i>p</i> = 0.40). Serum RF decreased after HCV eradication, regardless of treatment regimen. Our findings suggest that HCV eradication may attenuate HCV-related autoimmunity.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17762,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Viral Hepatitis","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142807096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}