Transcript Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Joyce Sutton, M.D.
HIV and HCV in CDC
1994 and 1999 anonymous tests of all
inmates entering prison during a two month
period. 5000+ each time.
Results
1994
1999
HIV 2.5% HCV 41%
HIV 1.4% HCV 34.6%
NYC inmates 16% positive for HIV
Incidence of HCV in other
populations
US overall 1.8%
NYC Oral Surgeons-9% 1990
Egypt overall 18%
Sacramento clinic for IVDU 95% 2000
California state hospital patients 25%
Psychiatric outpatients in US 5-20%
Sacramento Co. Jail 1999- 28%
History of HCV
1970’s non-A, non-B hepatitis
1989 HCV cloned, blood tests available
1990 Interferon approved for Tx
1990 ribaviron added to Tx
2001 Pegelated interferon approved
Hepatitis review
Hep A
. Food borne (oysters, etc)
Oral-fecal spread (un-washed hands,
dishes)
Acute symptoms (fever, jaundice, malaise)
Most persons recover completely
Hep B
Blood to blood transmission (needles,
transfusions)
Most persons recover, 5-20% develop
chronic infection, 5% cirrhosis and death
10x more contagious than HCV 100x more
than HIV
1990 vaccine approved for Hep A and
Hep B
Before then, infection of health care
personnel was common
State hospital and CDC dentists- 75%
became infected 25 years ago
Royal Air Force, England 1940’s and
1960’s outbreaks of jaundice and
hepatitis in troupes from re-use of
injection syringes
Hep C (HCV)
Rapidly mutating RNA virus, develops many
sub-populations of HCV “quasi-species”
Difficult for immune system to eradicate, and
difficult to develop vaccine or effective
treatment
Blood to Blood transmission
Methods of transmission in US
.
.
IV drug use
65% of patients
Transfusions 15% (before 1989)
Dialysis
7%
Fetus
2%
Needle stick
1% (accidents)
Unknown
10%
Sexual Transmission- low risk
Transmission in prison
Shared needles
Tattoos ink is saved and re-used
Other shared personal items (toothbrushes,
razors, nail clippers)
Transmission to Fetus
3-7% of babies of HCV+ mothers
No medication to prevent this
Interferon and ribaviron both cause severe birth
defects
Most babies do well without treatment
50% eradicate virus by 6 months
75% eradicate virus by one year.
Natural History of HCV infection
No symptoms for many years or decades,
most cases detected by blood test.
Mild symptoms may occur: fatigue, itching,
RUQ discomfort
25% clear virus, 75% chronic infection
25% progress to Fibrosis-Cirrhosis
5% develop liver cancer
25%+ will develop type II Diabetes
ANY alcohol use accelerates
progression to Fibrosis and Cirrhosis
HIV co-infection greatly accelerates
progression of HCV (decreases immune
response) 30%+ of HIV patients also
have HVC. HCV is becoming a major
cause of death in treated HIV patients.
6 genotypes and over 50
subtypes
1 Most common US and Canada 60-75%
2+3 25% Us and Canada
4,5 +6 less then 5% US and Canada
4 most common type in Egypt
Treatment
Least effective (45% SVR) for the most common
HCV genotype (type I- 75% of cases)
Most effective (80% SVR) for the least common
genotypes (2&3-25%)
Many side effects, very unpleasant
Can delay Tx if disease not progressing rapidly
and hope for better Tx later.
Early Treatment Recommended
Genotypes 2+3- better results 80% SVR
Shorter treatment duration 24 weeks
Possible lower dose ribavirin
Consider treatment after needle stick injury
if infection results
Absolute Contraindications to
Treatment
Age less than 3
Poor compliance
Decompensated liver Disease (except pretransplant)
Ongoing and Untreated Substance Abuse
Pregnancy or nonadherence to
contraceptive use during Tx and 6mos after
Co-existing Medical Disorders
and contraindications
Uncontrolled seizure disorder
Uncontrolled severe Psychiatric Disorder
Autoimmune diseases, including SLE and
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Solid Organ Transplantation (except liver)
Severe Anemia, Neutropenia,
Thrombocytopenia
Uncontrolled Heart disease (angina,
congestive failure, significant
arrhythmias)
Cerebrovascular disease
Advanced Renal failure
Serologic Testing
HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) EIA
95-99% sensitivity- inexpensive
6-8 weeks after exposure
HCV-RNA assay (qualitative-PCR)
Detects viral RNA - expensive
1-3 weeks after exposure
Who should be tested for HCVRNA
Inconclusive anti HCV PCR
Immunocompromised (HIV, transplant
patient, hemodialysis)
Suspected acute infection (needle stick)
Positive HCV, but persistently low normal
ALT (may have cleared virus)
Monitoring
Follow LFT, especially ALT(indicates
inflammation)
Follow FBS and 2h pp glucose (glucose
intolerance increases as disease
progresses)
Test for genotype and viral titer
Liver biopsy before Tx (Only way to know
how far disease has progressed)
Course of Treatment
Goal- complete irradication of virus
sustained for 6 months after Tx stopped
Studies at 3 and 13 years after SVR indicate
durable results
Length of Tx and dose depends on
genotype
Type I (75%)
Continue Tx for 48 weeks+
Peg Interferon (weekly sub-Q ) and
Ribaviron 1000-1200mg daily
Type 2 & 3 (25%)
Continue Tx 24 weeks
Peg Interferon (weekly Sub Q) and
Ribaviron 800mg daily
12 week treatment test
All genotypes, repeat viral titer at 12 weeks
If less than 2 LOG decrease in viral titer,
STOP TREATMENT
Less than 3% chance of response, does not
justify risks of treatment
24 week treatment test
All genotypes, repeat viral titer at 24 weeks.
Titer should be ZERO. If not, STOP
TREATMENT
Less than 3% chance of response and
continued treatment does not justify the
risks
Adverse effects of Treatment
Bone marrow suppression- Neutropenia,
anemia, decreased platelets
Contraindicated with clozaril
Problematic with HIV patients who are
immunosuppressed. However, many HIV
patients have been successfully treated.
Response rates are similar to other patients.
Flu-like symptoms-can be severe: malaise,
headache, muscle aches, nausea, fever,
anorexia,
Psychiatric symptoms: depression and
irritability, can be severe. 60% of non
psychiatric patients become depressed.
SSRI medications helpful (prozac, etc.)
Relative contraindication in psychiatric
patients. However, many state hospital
patients have been successfully Tx. Requires
close observation and increased medications.
(increased suicide risk)
Needle Sharing
Sacramento drug Tx clinics 2000
Meth users- 30% inject 43% often did not
sterilize
Meth users- shared with 11 strangers /yr
casual sex with 8 partners
Heroin users- shared with 3.4 strangers /yr
casual sex with 2.6 partners
Needle Exchange Programs
2002 Mar 13 Int. J of STD and AIDS
New Haven, Co.
Needles were “tagged” to identify “owner”
31.5% were returned by different “owner”
Unsafe Injections and Blood
Bourne Disease
World Wide Problem
Developing world (Africa, Asia, Central and South
America, Mexico, Romania)
50% of injections are un-sterile, and other medical
practices are un-safe
Developed countries-Shared Needles of drug users
Unsafe cosmetic practices (nail salons, piercing,
tattoos)
.
Cultural Differences
Nothing of value is thrown away or wasted
Injections are “magic”
Are the most effective way to deliver
powerful and expensive medicine
Overuse of injections 90% not needed
(vitamins,antibiotics,analgesics) 10%
vaccinations
Lack of understanding of sanitation and
blood bourne disease
Unsafe injections may spread
HIV more than sex
Controversial -Interesting data
“Deep” injuries may be 10X more likely to infect
than superficial needle pricks. Account for over
50% of infections in health care workers, yet are
only 10% of accidents.
HIV+ children- 20% have HIV- mothers
Pre-natal care and delivery (Kenya,Zimbabwe,S.
Africa) 5-19% of HIV- women become HIV+
Puerperal fever rates in Vienna 1841-46
616% (Semmelweis)
Romania 1990- 14% of orphans 0-3 yrs old
tested HIV+ (1000+ )
Origin- imported gamaglobulin given to a few
kids and spread to rest by un-safe injections.
One orphanage records: 1989 Given- 4457
injections Sterilized- 810 syringes (82% Not
sterilized)
Pediatric clinics in Africa re-use needles 3-20%
of children are HIV+
Infants have viral loads 10-100x adults
No investigation of infections is done
Thousands of paid blood donors in China are
infected with HIV.
One Chinese village, 50-70% of older people
have HCV from clinic injections before 1985
Egypt- 18% of population is HCV+ -injections for
shistosomiasis 1920-1980
1950,s-1980’s massive increase in Medical
injections in Africa- vaccinations and treatment
of yaws. Time of silent spread of HIV
The River- Source of HIV may have been early
polio vaccine trials in Africa using monkey kidney
cultures
Hepatitis C and diabetes
Incidence of Hepatitis C
CDC 35-38% of inmates at reception center
1994 + 1999
DMH 25-30% state hospital patients
US population 1.8%
US Psychiatric outpatients 5-20%
Sacramento drug tx program 95%
Egypt general population 18%
Diabetes and Hepatitis
Hep C increases insulin resistance
Hep C is an independent risk factor
Hep C is additive to other risk factors
Diabetes risk increases as the liver disease
advances (13-33%non-cirrhotic mean 25%)
(50%+ cirrhotic)
No-one has studied the diabetes risk of Hep C in
Psychiatric patients or the interactions with
Psychiatric medications
Eli Lilly
(Olanzapine)
Clinical trials eliminated any patients with
known liver disease
They had not thought about the combined
effects of Hep C and Olanzapine re diabetes
They are interested in funding clinical
studies
Diabetes may increase the progression
of HCV to cirrhosis
Test all patients for HCV and HBV
Consider medications with less potential
for weight gain in HCV+
Monitor HCV+ more closely for diabetes
SGA’S and weight gain
Drug
Weight gain
Clozapine
+++
Olanzapine
+++
Risperidone
++
Quetiapine
++
Aripiprazole
+/-
Ziprasidone
+/-
amantadine
Has some antiviral activity against Hep C
Helps to prevent depression during Hep C
treatment
May stop weight gain from antipsychotics
As effective as cogentin or artane for EPS
side effects
HVC Self Care
Abstain from all alcohol
Maintain normal body weight
Exercise
Avoid Herbal Products, especially Kava- these are
not effective and many are toxic to the liver
Do not take Iron supplements (buy senior
vitamins)
Avoid NSAIDS
HCV Prevention
Do not share needles
Do not use Health Care in developing countries
(includes blood tests and acupuncture) buy
Medical Evacuation Insurance (SOS, AAA)
Evaluate carefully nail salons- bring your own
tools. (also tattoo and piercing parlors)
Do not use nail salons in Developing countries