A regular screening for hepatitis delta virus among chronic hepatitis B carriers improves the diagnostic of this infection and of subsequent cirrhosis development.

Background And Objective: The prevalence of Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) is underestimated and the assessment of fibrosis is recommended for this infection. We tested the diagnostic impact of an annual screening for HDV serology in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBs Ag) chronic carriers and followed the progression of fibrosis in these patients.

Methods: Between January 2014 and October 2021, we annually tested all chronic HBs Ag-positive patients for HDV antibody (HDV Ab).

Premedication with simethicone for improving the quality of gastric mucosal visualization: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Saliva, bubbles, or mucus can limit gastric mucosal visualization (GMV), increasing the risk of missed lesions such as gastric cancer. Several studies using endoscopy photodocumentation-based scores have reported increased quality of GMV when mucolytic and/or defoaming agents are administered. This single-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial aimed to evaluate whether simethicone administration could improve GMV.

Viral clade is associated with severity of symptomatic genotype 3 hepatitis E virus infections in Belgium, 2010-2018.

Background & Aims: HEV genotype (gt) 3 infections are prevalent in high-income countries and display a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Host - but not viral - factors are reported to be associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Methods: Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data laboratory-confirmed HEV infections (by PCR and/or a combination of IgM and IgG serology) at the Belgian National Reference Centre between January 2010 and June 2018 were collected using standardised case report forms.

Safety and Pharmacokinetics of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir in Adults With Chronic Genotype 1-6 Hepatitis C Virus Infections and Compensated Liver Disease.

Background: Untreated, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may lead to progressive liver damage, which can be mitigated by successful treatment. This integrated analysis reports the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of the ribavirin-free, direct-acting, antiviral, fixed-dose combination of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) in patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infections and compensated liver disease, including patients with chronic kidney disease stages 4 or 5 (CKD 4/5).

Methods: Data from 9 Phase II and III clinical trials, assessing the efficacy and safety of G/P treatment for 8-16 weeks, were included.

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.

Improvement of sleep architecture parameters in cirrhotic patients with recurrent hepatic encephalopathy with the use of rifaximin.

Background And Aim: Sleep disorders are frequently reported in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). This study assessed the effect of rifaximin on sleep architecture parameters in patients with recurrent HE.

Patients And Methods: This sequential, prospective, and exploratory study involved all patients with cirrhosis and recurrent HE admitted between June 2014 and September 2015.

Combination ledipasvir-sofosbuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a review and clinical perspective.

Chronic hepatitis C treatment has continued to evolve, and interferon-free, oral treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents is the current standard of care. Recently, a new treatment, which is a combination of two direct-acting antiviral agents, ledipasvir 90 mg (anti-NS5A) and sofosbuvir 400 mg (anti-NS5B), has been approved in the US and the European Union for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C viral infection. In Phase III trials among chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 monoinfected (treatment-naïve, treatment-experienced, and with advanced liver disease or posttransplant) patients and HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfected patients, the ledipasvir-sofosbuvir fixed-dose combination is associated with a higher rate of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after therapy has ceased.

Ethnic epidemiological profiles and antiviral therapy among patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 4: a multicenter study from Belgium.

Background: Hepatitis C virus genotype 4 (HCV-4) is the most prevalent genotype in Central Africa.

Aim: To compare epidemiology, clinical characteristics and any differences in access to HCV therapy in two populations of HCV-4 patients residing in Belgium.

Methods: This multicenter study selected 473 HCV-4 patients from seven hospital databases and compared them according to ethnic origin, i.

In routine clinical practice, few physicians use early viral kinetics to guide HCV dual therapy treatment decisions.

Background & Aims: PROPHESYS is a large, multinational, non-interventional prospective cohort study of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peginterferon alfa/ribavirin. This subanalysis assesses rates of premature treatment discontinuation stratified by on-treatment virological response (VR).

Methods: This PROPHESYS subanalysis is restricted to treatment-naive, hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (G)1/2/3 mono-infected patients who received peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD)/ribavirin with intended treatment duration of 48 (G1) or 24 weeks (G2/3).

The liver involvement of the hydatid disease: a systematic review designed for the hepato-gastroenterologist.

Hydatidosis is not uncommon in Western Europe, mainly due to the presence of immigrants from endemic countries, and hepato-gastroenterologist must then be able to manage this infectious disease. The hepatic hydatidosis is due to development in the liver of the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus that causes liver cysts. It can grow in size throughout the years and can give rise to complications, mainly pain, super-infection or cyst rupture.

IL28B polymorphism and the control of hepatitis C virus infection: ready for clinical use?

Polymorphisms in the region of the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene have recently been associated with spontaneous and treatment induced clearance of hepatitis C virus infection. The specific mechanisms of how IL28B polymorphisms affect HCV suppression remain unknown. It is a matter of ongoing debate how to incorporate the IL28B data into the current treatment algorithms with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin.

Metabolic disorders associated with chronic hepatitis C: impact of genotype and ethnicity.

Background & Aim: Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, especially those with genotypes 1 and 4, have an increased risk of developing metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations among metabolic disorders, ethnicity and genotype in a large cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Patients And Methods: All consecutive patients with CHC who were seen in our hepato-gastroenterology unit between January 2002 and September 2008 were included.