Changes in the response to treatment against chronic hepatitis C between 1999 and 2015: data from a prospective cohort.

Background: The drug options and strategies for treatment against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have changed considerably in the last few years. The aim of this study was to compare the changes in the proportion of nonresponders and patients who achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR) from 1999 to 2015 in one single cohort.

Patients And Methods: A total of 522 patients treated against chronic hepatitis C were included prospectively.

Progression of liver stiffness predicts clinical events in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Background: Our objective was to assess the predictive value of the changes of liver stiffness (LS) for clinical outcome in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with compensated liver cirrhosis and a LS value < 40 kPa.

Methods: Prospective cohort of 275 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with cirrhosis, no previous liver decompensation (LD) and LS < 40 kPa. The time from diagnosis to LD and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the predictors of this outcome were evaluated.

Low Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin plus Nitazoxanide for HCV Genotype 4 and HIV Coinfection.

Background: Nitazoxanide (NTZ) plus pegylated interferon and ribavirin (Peg-IFN/RBV) improved the sustained virological response (SVR) achieved with Peg-IFN/RBV in hepatitis C virus genotype 4 (HCV-4)-monoinfected patients. There are no data currently on the efficacy of Peg-IFN/RBV plus NTZ for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-4 coinfection. Therefore, the objectives of this clinical trial were to assess the efficacy and to evaluate the safety of Peg-IFN/RBV plus NTZ in HIV/HCV-4-coinfected patients.

[Prevalence and genotype distribution changes in hepatitis C virus co-infection among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients].

Background: The prevalence of hepatitisC is decreasing among new diagnoses of HIV/HCV coinfection in Spain. The increasing use of the HCV treatment could have changed the HCV genotype distribution. The aim of this study is to analyze changes in the prevalence of HCV coinfection and in HCV genotype distribution among HIV-infected patients.

Interobserver concordance in controlled attenuation parameter measurement, a novel tool for the assessment of hepatic steatosis on the basis of transient elastography.

Background: The combination of transient elastometry with a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is available to evaluate hepatic steatosis (HS) along with liver stiffness.

Aims: To assess the concordance of CAP measurements between two independent observers in patients infected by HIV and/or hepatitis virus, as well as to determine the concordance of classification of the grade of HS using two cut-off values.

Materials And Methods: In a cross-sectional prospective study, CAP-enabled transient elastometry acquisitions were performed by two independent observers in patients with HIV or hepatitis virus infection.

No influence of antiretroviral therapy on the mutation rate of the HCV NS5B polymerase in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Objectives: To assess the impact of antiretroviral treatment (ART), including nucleoside analogues retrotranscriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), on the mutation rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase and on the ratio of substitution at synonymous and nonsynonymous sites (dN/dS) this polymerase in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-one patients on defined ART were included in this study. The NS5B polymerase of HCV was sequenced at baseline and after at least two years of ART.

Interobserver concordance in the assessment of liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients using transient elastometry.

Objectives: Although the reproducibility of transient elastometry (TE) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected patients seems to be high, this may not be the case in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients because of different degrees of steatosis and/or inflammation. This study was aimed to determine the interobserver concordance of TE measurements in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: A total of 188 patients were evaluated in a cross-sectional, prospective study in two hospitals.

Liver stiffness as a predictor of esophageal varices requiring therapy in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Liver stiffness (LS) measured by transient elastometry is associated with portal pressure in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected patients and could predict the presence of esophageal varices in these subjects. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of LS to predict esophageal varices requiring preventive therapy for bleeding in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: One hundred two HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with liver cirrhosis (LS >or= 14 kPa) underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) examination.

Application of transient elastometry to differentiate mild from moderate to severe liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

Background/aims: Transient elastometry (TE) is accurate for detecting cirrhosis (F=4) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients. However, this procedure is less precise to differentiate mild (F < or = 1) from moderate to severe (F > or = 2) fibrosis using the cut-off value of 7.2kPa, a level previously proposed by some authors.