Hepatitis C prevalence in incarcerated settings between 2013-2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The introduction of highly effective direct-acting antiviral therapy has changed the hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment paradigm. However, a recent update on HCV epidemiology in incarcerated settings is necessary to accurately determine the extent of the problem, provide information to policymakers and public healthcare, and meet the World Health Organization's goals by 2030. This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to determine the prevalence of HCV Ab and RNA in incarcerated settings.

A long-term study of liver-related events in Caucasian hepatitis B patients with normal ALT values and high viremia.

Background And Study Aims: There is ongoing debate whether antiviral therapy should be initiated in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels but high HBV DNA levels >2,000 IU/mL. Since the need for antiviral therapy might be different between Asian and Caucasian patients, we studied the long-term disease outcome in Caucasian patients living in Western Europe.

Patients And Methods: One hundred sixteen patients with high HBV DNA levels (>2,000 IU/mL) at diagnosis were included in the high viremia group, while those with HBV DNA <2,000 IU/mL were used as controls (n = 327).

Hepatitis C reinfection in former and active injecting drug users in Belgium.

Background: There is currently no systematic screening for hepatitis C (HCV) reinfection in people who inject drugs (PWID) after treatment in Belgium. However, in a recent meta-analysis, the overall HCV reinfection rate was 5.9/100 person-years (PY) among PWID.

On-site testing and case management to improve hepatitis C care in drug users: a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study in the DAA era.

Background: Screening and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in people who use drugs (PWUD) remains insufficient. Reducing the burden of HCV infection in PWUD requires interventions focusing on the different steps of the HCV care cascade.

Methods: We performed a prospective, multicenter study, evaluating the impact of an HCV care model on the HCV care cascade among PWUD attending an addiction care center in Belgium between 2015 and 2018.

A multicentre interventional study to assess blood-borne viral infections in Belgian prisons.

Background: Prevalence data on viral hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV infection in prison are often scarce or outdated. There is currently no systematic screening for these blood-borne viral infections (BBV) in Belgian prisons. There is an urgency to assess the prevalence of these BBV to inform policymakers and public healthcare.

Uptake of hepatitis C virus screening and treatment in persons under opioid substitution therapy between 2008 and 2013 in Belgium.

Background: Hepatitis C is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) with people who inject drugs as the main group at risk worldwide.

Aim: This study investigated the differences in uptake for HCV screening and treatment between persons in opioid substitution therapy (OST) and the other members of the Christian Health Insurance Fund in Belgium.

Methods: Invoice data were retrospectively collected from the Christian Health Insurance Fund, representing 42% of the healthcare users.

Identification and treatment of viral hepatitis C in persons who use drugs: a prospective, multicenter outreach study in Flanders, Belgium.

Background: Targeted screening for hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection is not yet widely executed in Belgium. When performed in people who use drugs (PWUD), it is mainly focused on those receiving opiate agonist therapy (OAT). We wanted to reach out to a population of difficult to reach PWUD not on centralized OAT, using non-invasive screening as a bridge to re-integration in medical care supported by facilitated referral to a specialist.

The hepatitis C cascade of care in the Belgian HIV population: One step closer to elimination.

Objectives: The Belgian population of people living with HIV (PLHIV) has unrestricted access to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, since 2017. International literature claims that half of the patients remain untreated in high-income countries with unrestricted access to DAA. This study was initiated to provide an overview of the present situation in Belgium and recommendations for HCV care in PLHIV in other regions.

Early detection of chronic hepatitis B and risk factor assessment in Turkish migrants, Middle Limburg, Belgium.

Background: Turkey is an intermediate hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemic country. However, prevalence among Turkish migrants in Belgium is unknown, especially in those born in Belgium with a foreign-born parent, i.e.

Outcome in Caucasian patients with hepatitis B e antigen negative chronic infection: A long-term observational cohort study.

Sensitive polymerase chain reaction assays to measure hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA became only available the last decade. Hence, the long-term outcome of Caucasian patients in Western Europe with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic infection, especially with a baseline HBV DNA level ⩾2000 IU/mL, is still unclear. Out of a cohort of 1936 chronic HBV patients, 413 Caucasian individuals were identified with HBeAg-negative chronic infection, defined as persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and HBV DNA levels <20 000 IU/mL.

Eliminating viral hepatitis C in Belgium: the micro-elimination approach.

Background: Hepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and liver-related deaths worldwide. The estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C viral infection among the general Belgian population was 0.57% (n = 64,000) in 2015.

Validation of hepatitis C virus RNA detection using capillary blood by finger prick (GenXpert system)-Hepatitis C fingerprick study.

To achieve the ambitious goals of the WHO to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as a public health threat by 2030, innovative approaches are needed to improve the uptake for screening and treatment in people who inject drugs (PWID). Important barriers to care are difficult venous access and the two-step approach in current point-of-care tests, using an HCV antibody screening test followed by a confirmatory HCV RNA test. In this study, we aimed to validate the new GenXpert instrument to diagnose HCV RNA by finger prick.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence estimation in the adult general population in Belgium : a meta-analysis.

Background And Study Aims: Although multiple HCV prevalence studies were recently performed in the general population from Belgium, they suffer from a lack of geographical representativeness, an insufficient number of participants or a lack of inclusion of high prevalence groups. The aim of this study is to provide robust information on the HCV burden.

Methods: Recently performed HCV prevalence studies in the general, adult population were included in this study, based on well-defined selection criteria.

Who to screen for hepatitis C? A cost-effectiveness study in Belgium of comprehensive hepatitis C screening in four target groups.

Background And Study Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection often causes asymptomatic disease and patients are frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Oral direct acting antivirals (DAAs) are successful in treating HCV with high sustained virologic response (SVR) and excellent tolerability. The aim of this study is to evaluate cost-effectiveness of a broad screening strategy proposing screening to all undiagnosed members of a population (comprehensive HCV screening), in the general adult population, emergency department (ED) attendees, men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs (PWID).

Elimination of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with haemophilia in Belgium: A single-centre experience.

Introduction: Patients with haemophilia are one of the subgroups with a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. They are a potential target group to eliminate HCV infection thanks to the availability of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.

Aim: To investigate the results of DAA therapy in a cohort of patients with bleeding disorders.

Acute hepatitis B notification rates in Flanders, Belgium, 2009 to 2017.

BackgroundBelgium is a low-endemic country for hepatitis B. Universal hepatitis B vaccination in infants with catch-up in the age cohort of 10-13 year-olds began in 1999.AimsOur objective was to evaluate the effect of prevention and control strategies on acute hepatitis B notification rates in Flanders (Belgium) from 2009 to 2017.

Sustained virologic response to direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: The effect of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on the response to interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection remains unclear. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach, we aimed to investigate the effect of DAA therapy on sustained virologic response (SVR) among patients with CHC and either active, inactive or no HCC.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 1/1/2013 to 9/24/2018.

Assessing testing rates for viral hepatitis B and C by general practitioners in Flanders, Belgium: a registry-based study.

Objectives: Chronic infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have a major impact on mortality worldwide. Although effective treatments are available for both HBV and HCV infection, <50% of the patients are even diagnosed in Belgium. This study assessed the real-life testing-and diagnosis rate by general practitioners (GPs) in Flanders, Belgium.

Hepatitis B virus prevalence and risk factors in hard-to-reach Turkish population living in Belgium: A protocol for screening.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important public health problem in the Turkish population, that is, one of the largest migrant populations in Europe. With the introduction of cost-effective antiviral treatments in the past decade, there is a need to identify HBV-infected patients who may benefit from treatment. This study describes the design of a study to assess the HBV prevalence in the Turkish population living in Belgium.

Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection in Middle-Limburg Belgium, year 2017: Importance of migration.

Background And Aim: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence study performed in 2003 in Belgium is believed to be underestimating HBV prevalence due to underrepresentation of the non-Belgian population. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence and risk factors of HBV infection in a multi-ethnic region situated in Middle-Limburg Belgium, in 2017.

Methods: Between May and November 2017, blood samples and questionnaires were taken from patients who presented at the emergency department of a large educational hospital.

Screening for hepatitis C at the emergency department: Should babyboomers also be screened in Belgium?

Background & Aims: Patients are not screened adequately for hepatitis C virus infection in Belgium. In the USA, the Center for Disease Control recommends screening for patients born in the babyboom period (1945-1965). In Europe, the babyboom cohort was born between 1955 and 1974, but no screening policy has been targeted to this group.

Harm reduction and viral hepatitis C in European prisons: a cross-sectional survey of 25 countries.

Background: Current estimates suggest that 15% of all prisoners worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and this number is even higher in regions with high rates of injecting drug use. Although harm reduction services such as opioid substitution therapy (OST) and needle and syringe programs (NSPs) are effective in preventing the further spread of HCV and HIV, the extent to which these are available in prisons varies significantly across countries.

Methods: The Hep-CORE study surveyed liver patient groups from 25 European countries in 2016 and mid-2017 on national policies related to harm reduction, testing/screening, and treatment for HCV in prison settings.

Personalized subcutaneous administration of hepatitis B surface antibodies without nucleos(t)ide analogs for patients at risk of renal failure after liver transplantation: a prospective single center cohort study.

Currently, nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) in monotherapy are favored as prophylaxis against hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation. However, in patients at risk of renal failure, renal safety of NAs is of concern. We investigated the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous (SC) hepatitis B immunoglobulins (HBIG) in monotherapy.

Belgian experience with direct acting antivirals in people who inject drugs.

Background And Aim: Hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) has become a curable disease due to the development of direct acting antivirals (DAA). The WHO has set a target to eliminate HCV completely. Therefore, people who inject drugs (PWID) also need to be treated.