The Hepatitis C Care Cascade During the Direct-Acting Antiviral Era in a United States Commercially Insured Population.

Background: Periodic surveillance of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascade is important for tracking progress toward HCV elimination goals, identifying gaps in care, and prioritizing resource allocation. In the pre-direct-acting antiviral (DAA) era, it was estimated that 50% of HCV-infected individuals were diagnosed and that 16% had been prescribed interferon-based therapy. Since then, few studies utilizing nationally representative data from the DAA era have been conducted in the United States.

We Must Do Better: Addressing HCV Treatment Barriers in Persons Who Inject Drugs in the United States.

The opioid epidemic in the United States, along with a lack of adequate harm reduction services, has contributed to a sharp rise in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Despite considerable evidence of the effectiveness of HCV treatment in people who inject drugs (PWID), and recommendations from clinical guidelines to prioritize treatment in PWID, there are multiple barriers to broad uptake of HCV treatment. These barriers exist at the systems level, as well as at the level of medical providers and patients.

Hepatitis C: How to fine-tune your approach.

Advances in drug therapy have made it possible to cure HCV infection. This article describes how best to screen, diagnose, and counsel these patients.

Access to Costly New Hepatitis C Drugs: Medicine, Money, and Advocacy.

Hepatitis C affects >3 million people in the United States, and often leads to end-stage liver disease or death. In 2014, several new drugs to treat hepatitic C virus received US Food and Drug Administration approval, with remarkable cure rates exceeding 90%. Medicaid, however, is rationing these drugs, and other insurers have restricted coverage due to their exorbitant costs and the large size of the population in need.

Results from a Geographically Focused, Community-Based HCV Screening, Linkage-to-Care and Patient Navigation Program.

Background: Many of the five million Americans chronically infected with hepatitis C (HCV) are unaware of their infection and are not in care.

Objective: We implemented and evaluated HCV screening and linkage-to-care interventions in a community setting.

Design: We developed a comprehensive, community-based HCV screening and linkage-to-care program in a medically underserved neighborhood with high rates of HCV infection in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sofosbuvir: A Nucleotide NS5B Inhibitor for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection.

Objective: To review the use of sofosbuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Data Sources: Review and nonreview articles were identified through MEDLINE (1996-April 2014), citations of articles, and meeting abstracts using keywords, including NS5B polymerase inhibitor, GS-7977, sofosbuvir, direct-acting antiviral (DAA), and others.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Phase 1, 2, and 3 studies describing dose-ranging potential, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and tolerability of sofosbuvir were identified.

Prevalence of HCV risk factors in Hispanic-American sub populations.

To assess the prevalence of HCV risk factors among Hispanic-American subpopulations in Philadelphia. Patients from four primary care practices in Philadelphia were enrolled. Demographics and HCV risk factors were ascertained using a self-administered questionnaire.

Hepatitis C risk assessment, testing and referral for treatment in urban primary care: role of race and ethnicity.

Aim: To determine rates of hepatitis C (HCV) risk factor ascertainment, testing, and referral in urban primary care practices, with particular attention to the effect of race and ethnicity.

Methods: Retrospective chart review from four primary care sites in Philadelphia; two academic primary care practices and two community clinics was performed. Demographics, HCV risk factors, and other risk exposure information were collected.