HDV RNA Levels and Progression of Hepatitis Delta Infection: A 14 Year Follow Up Experience in Italy.

Background: Identification of outcome predictors is one of the unmet needs in chronic HDV infection. Until recently, no reliable quantitative assays for HDV RNA were available.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of baseline viremia on natural history of HDV infection in a cohort of patients whose serum samples were stored at their first visit 15 years ago.

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: A 9-Year Follow Up Cohort Study.

Background And Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may progress to severe liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. A limited number of studies with a long follow up assessed fibrosis progression and related predictors in untreated patients with a histological diagnosis of NAFLD. This study aims to investigate rate and predictors of NAFLD progression.

Effectiveness of Booster Dose of Anti SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 in Cirrhosis: Longitudinal Evaluation of Humoral and Cellular Response.

Background: LC has been associated with hyporesponsiveness to several vaccines. Nonetheless, no data on complete serological and B- and T-cell immune response are currently available. Aims: To assess, in comparison with healthy controls of the same age and gender, both humoral and cellular immunoresponses of patients with LC after two or three doses of the mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and to investigate clinical features associated with non-response.

Increased Hepatitis C virus screening, diagnosis and linkage to care rates among people who use drugs through a patient-centered program from Italy.

Background: Rates of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and diagnosis are variable among people who use drugs (PWUD). In Puglia in 2018, of 871 subjects screened, 38% had HCV antibodies (HCVAb). Despite sustained virologic response at week 12 Sustained virologic response (SVR12) rates >95%, addiction centers in Italy are not allowed to prescribe direct-acting antivirals (DAA).

Early Serological Response to BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Healthcare Workers.

Purpose: Clinical significance and durability of serological response after mRNA COVID-19 vaccines is under investigation. Data on early virological response are limited. To iden-tify potential predictors of antibody durability, circulating antibody levels were longitudinally ex-plored in healthcare workers included in a follow-up program for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

High Rates of Hidden HCV Infections among Hospitalized Patients Aged 55-85.

Background And Aims: The WHO has solicited all countries to eliminate HCV by 2030. The Italian government started routine screening for HCV infection in January 2021, initially targeting subjects born between 1969 and 1989. With the aim of achieving micro-elimination, we designed a hospital-wide project focusing on inpatients born from 1935 to 1985 and conducted it in our institution.

Hepatitis C virus micro-elimination: Where do we stand?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030, using direct-acting antiviral treatments, has been promoted by the World Health Organization. This achievement is not attainable, however, particularly after the 2020 pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019. Consequently, the more realistic objective of eliminating HCV from population segments for which targeted strategies of prevention and treatment are easily attained has been promoted in Europe, as a valid alternative.

Is positivity for hepatitis C virus antibody predictive of lower risk of death in COVID-19 patients with cirrhosis?

Liver injury has been reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases but the impact of pre-existing liver damage and related etiology have not been completely elucidated. Our research interests include the potential reciprocal influence of COVID-19 and pre-existing liver damage related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, in particular. To this end, we have evaluated three cohorts of patients admitted at three Italian hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic; these included 332 patients with COVID-19 and 1527 patients with HCV who were from established real-world antiviral treatment study cohorts (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir), with either liver disease (various severities; = 1319) or cirrhosis ( = 208).

SVR12 Higher than 97% in GT3 Cirrhotic Patients with Evidence of Portal Hypertension Treated with SOF/VEL without Ribavirin: A Nation-Wide Cohort Study.

In clinical trials, a sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) pangenotypic single-tablet regimen was associated with high sustained virological response (SVR) rates at 12 weeks (SVR12) after the end of treatment, regardless of genotype and fibrosis stage. No real-life data on genotype 3 (GT3) cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension are available. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of SOF/VEL in GT3 cirrhotics with portal hypertension.

The combination of daclatasvir and sofosbuvir for curing genotype 2 patients who cannot tolerate ribavirin.

Background: The current standard-of-care for treatment of HCV genotype 2 (GT-2) patients is the combination of sofosbuvir (SOF) with weight-based ribavirin (RBV). Patients with HCV GT-2 infection and ribavirin contraindications require the use of SOF plus NS5A inhibitor daclatasvir (DCV) which is not reimbursed everywhere.

Methods: We conducted an open-label observational, prospective study on a subgroup of GT-2 patients either naïve or treatment experienced (TE) with contraindications to the use of RBV.