The study of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HCV in HIV infected patients

Saraswat

Dhiman

et al. 2016

India contributes significantly to the global burden of HCV. While the nucleoside NS5B inhibitor sofosbuvir became available in the Indian market in March 2015, the other directly acting agents (DAAs), Ledipasvir and Daclatasvir, have only recently become available in the India. The introduction of these DAA in India at a relatively affordable price has led to great optimism about prospects of cure for these patients as not only will they provide higher efficacy, but combination DAAs as all-oral regimen will result in lower side effects than were seen with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy. Availability of these newer DAAs has necessitated revision of INASL guidelines for the treatment of HCV published in 2015. Current considerations for the treatment of HCV in India include the poorer response of genotype 3, nonavailability of many of the DAAs recommended by other guidelines and the cost of therapy. The availability of combination DAA therapy has simplified therapy of HCV with decreased reliance of evaluation for monitoring viral kinetics or drug related side effects. ( J CLIN EXP HEPATOL 2016;6:119-145) T here have been revolutionary changes in the management of chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) over the last few years. Pegylated interferon alfa (Peg-IFNa) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy, which till the recent past was the standard of care, has been eclipsed by the arrival of newer directly acting antiviral agents (DAAs). Not only do the DAAs have better efficacy, they are also associated with lower side effects, have better tolerability, a shorter duration of therapy, and have simpler administration.In the recent guidelines issued by the American Association for the study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1 and the European Association for Study of the Liver z (EASL), 2 the role of Peg-IFNa/RBV therapy in the management of HCV has been relegated to second-line, backup status. These newer guidelines, however, cannot be implemented in India as many of the recommended drugs are yet to be marketed in India. Other considerations for the treatment of HCV in India are a predominance of

Section: Management Of Hcv In Hiv Coinfectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL) Guidance for Antiviral Therapy Against HCV Infection: Update 2016

Saraswat

Dhiman

et al. 2016

“…In southern India, prevalence of HCV infection among HIV-infected persons is higher than that in northern India. [107][108][109][110][111][112] HCV-HIV co-infection is commoner in patients with low CD4 counts (<200/mL) 109 …”

Section: Hiv Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is a need for large field studies to better understand HCV epidemiology and identify high-prevalence areas, and to identify and spread awareness about the modes of transmission of this infection in an attempt to prevent disease transmission. ( J CLIN EXP HEPATOL 2014;4: [106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116] understand the risk factors associated with transmission of this infection. This would also allow appropriate choice and targeting of efforts to prevent the spread of this disease, and thereby reduce the burden of chronic liver disease in the country.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Consensus Statement of HCV Task Force of the Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL). Part I: Status Report of HCV Infection in India

Anand

Saraswat

et al. 2014

Globally, around 150 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). India contributes a large proportion of this HCV burden. The prevalence of HCV infection in India is estimated at between 0.5% and 1.5%. It is higher in the northeastern part, tribal populations and Punjab, areas which may represent HCV hotspots, and is lower in western and eastern parts of the country. The predominant modes of HCV transmission in India are blood transfusion and unsafe therapeutic injections. There is a need for large field studies to better understand HCV epidemiology and identify high-prevalence areas, and to identify and spread awareness about the modes of transmission of this infection in an attempt to prevent disease transmission. ( J CLIN EXP HEPATOL 2014;4:106-116)

Tackling the Hepatitis B Disease Burden in India

2014

121

Globally, approximately 240 people have been infected worldwide with hepatitis B Virus (HBV). India has approximately HBV carrier rate of 3.0% with a high prevalence rate in the tribal population. With a population of more than 1.25 billion, India has more than 37 million HBV carriers and contributes a large proportion of this HBV burden. While horizontal transmission in childhood appears to be a major route of transmission, the role of vertical transmission is probably underestimated. Blood transfusion and unsafe therapeutic injections continue to be important modes of transmission of HBV. There is a need for large field studies to better understand HBV epidemiology and identify high prevalence areas, and public health measures to prevent disease transmission and decrease the burden of the disease. ( J CLIN EXP HEPATOL 2014;4:312-319)