Features of hepatitis C virus infection, current therapies and ongoing clinical trials in ten Asian Pacific countries

Abstract

Estimated hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rates in the general populations were 1.3, 0.9, 0.4-1.0, 14.7, 0.1-0.3, 0.9-1.9, 1.0-2.0, 5, 4.4-8.6 and 0.5-1.3 % in Australia, Bangladesh, Mainland China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Pakistan, Taiwan and Turkey, respectively. The main HCV genotypes (Gs) are G1, G3, G1b, G4, G1b, G3, G1b, G3, G1b and G2, and G1 in Australia, Bangladesh, Mainland China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Pakistan, Taiwan and Turkey, respectively. Of IL28B genotypes, favorable alleles are ~50 % in Australia and Turkey, but 60-70 % in most of the other Asian countries. Peginterferon plus ribavirin is available in all ten Asian Pasific countries. In addition, HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors with peginterferon plus ribavirin are currently available in several countries. Clinical trials of interferon-free regimens for HCV are ongoing in most of the ten Asian Pacific countries.

APASL consensus statements and recommendations for hepatitis C prevention, epidemiology, and laboratory testing

“…Tattoo-associated HCV infection is one of the greatest risks in some Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, and Japan [1]. These data show that non-healthcare transmission routes should also be noted.…”

“…The prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV genotype (GT) distribution around the Asia-Pacific region were well described in a recent study [1]. Estimated HCV infection rates in the general populations were 0.1-14.7 % in the Asia-Pacific region [1].…”

“…Estimated HCV infection rates in the general populations were 0.1-14.7 % in the Asia-Pacific region [1]. HCV GTs vary, such as HCV GT-1, GT-2, GT-3, and other GTs, in the AsiaPacific region [1]. The absolute numbers of currently HCVinfected both globally and in the Asia-Pacific region may recently have been scaled down, since better seroprevalence studies demonstrated lower rates of active infection in China than previously believed [2,3].…”

“…Estimated HCV infection rates in the general populations were 0.1-14.7 % in the Asia-Pacific region [1]. HCV GTs vary, such as HCV GT-1, GT-2, GT-3, and other GTs, in the AsiaPacific region [1].…”

Impaired Gastric Cancer Survival in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…From 2014 onwards, PegIFN-free treatment options with higher cure rates and better tolerability have become available in many western countries [2]. These new PegIFNfree regimens are very costly, limiting the availability in many economically deprived regions worldwide, where the majority of the global CHC population resides [3][4][5][6]. Guidelines still recommend telaprevir and boceprevir for use in countries where new generation DAAs are not available.…”