Eliminating viral hepatitis C in Belgium: the micro-elimination approach

Background: Hepatitis C virus is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and liver-related deaths worldwide. The estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C viral infection among the general Belgian population was 0.57% (n = 64,000) in 2015. Although Belgium has had a ‘Hepatitis C Plan’ since 2014, elimination efforts are unclear. This study employs the best available data and modelling estimates to define the burden of hepatitis C viral infection among key subgroups in Belgium, identify information gaps and propose potential approaches to screening, linkage to care and treatment, and cure. Methods: We examined the peer-reviewed and grey literature since 2012 for data on the prevalence of hepatitis C viral infection in Belgium in key subgroups identified by national experts and in the literature. Ultimately, this research is primarily based on data provided by the key stakeholders themselves due to a lack of reliable data in the literature. Based on this, we modelled the treatment rates required to reach elimination of hepatitis C in several subgroups. Results: Eleven potential subgroups were identified. There were no data available for two subgroups: generational cohorts and men who have sex with men. In six subgroups, fewer than 3000 people were reported or estimated to have hepatitis C infection. Migrants and people who inject drugs were the most affected subgroups, and children were the least affected subgroup. Only two subgroups are on target to achieve elimination by 2030: patients living with haemophilia and transplant recipients. Conclusions: Removing Belgian treatment reimbursement restrictions in January 2019 was a big step towards eliminating HCV. In addition, increasing surveillance, including with a national registry, treatment prescription by other health-care providers and availability of treatment in local pharmacies are central to improving the current situation and getting on track to reach the 2030 WHO hepatitis C elimination targets in Belgium

Harm reduction and viral hepatitis C in European prisons: a cross-sectional survey of 25 countries

BACKGROUND: Current estimates suggest that 15% of all prisoners worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and this number is even higher in regions with high rates of injecting drug use. Although harm reduction services such as opioid substitution therapy (OST) and needle and syringe programs (NSPs) are effective in preventing the further spread of HCV and HIV, the extent to which these are available in prisons varies significantly across countries. METHODS: The Hep-CORE study surveyed liver patient groups from 25 European countries in 2016 and mid-2017 on national policies related to harm reduction, testing/screening, and treatment for HCV in prison settings. Results from the cross-sectional survey were compared to the data from available reports and the peer-reviewed literature to determine the overall degree to which European countries implement evidence-based HCV recommendations in prison settings. RESULTS: Patient groups in nine countries (36%) identified prisoners as a high-risk population target for HCV testing/screening. Twenty-one countries (84%) provide HCV treatment in prisons. However, the extent of coverage of these treatment programs varies widely. Two countries (8%) have NSPs officially available in prisons in all parts of the country. Eleven countries (44%) provide OST in prisons in all parts of the country without additional requirements. CONCLUSION: Despite the existence of evidence-based recommendations, infectious disease prevention measures such as harm reduction programs are inadequate in European prison settings. Harm reduction, HCV testing/screening, and treatment should be scaled up in prison settings in order to progress towards eliminating HCV as a public health threat

Rhabdomyolysis after Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Case Report

Gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis is a disease with a poor prognosis. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal perioperative chemotherapy (HIPEC) can improve prognosis, although in most cases this should still be considered as a palliative treatment. Therefore, morbidity has to be avoided at all cost as quality of life is of utmost importance. We describe the case of a 64-year-old female with an adenocarcinoma of the stomach that was initially treated with a Billroth II gastrectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During follow-up, the diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis was made, and the patient was referred for CRS and HIPEC. Postoperatively, she developed rhabdomyolysis in both gastrocnemius muscles. Renal function remained within normal limits, but ultrasonography of the lower legs suggested the presence of bilateral abscesses. Drainage with pigtail catheters was necessary for more than 1 month, significantly impairing quality of life. The objective of this case report is to heighten awareness for this complication. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare complication of CRS and HIPEC, with a significant impact on quality of life. Prevention is necessary and can be achieved by adequate surgical positioning, using the altered lithotomy position, sufficient padding and by preventing hypovolemia

Global genotype distribution of hepatitis C viral infection among people who inject drugs

Hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) after injection drug use is very prevalent. The kind of genotype determines the response to treatment. However, no systematic review update on the global genotype distribution of HCV in people who inject drugs (PWID) is currently available.status: publishe

Case management to improve uptake for screening and therapy of hepatitis c viral infection in people who inject drugs

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Hepatitis B virus prevalence and risk factors in hard-to-reach Turkish population living in Belgium: A protocol for screening

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important public health problem in the Turkish population, that is, one of the largest migrant populations in Europe. With the introduction of cost-effective antiviral treatments in the past decade, there is a need to identify HBV-infected patients who may benefit from treatment. This study describes the design of a study to assess the HBV prevalence in the Turkish population living in Belgium. Additionally, we will determine the risk factors of HBV infection and the uptake of screening, vaccination, and antiviral treatment in this hard-to-reach Turkish population.Methods: A longitudinal, epidemiological study will be conducted in the region Middle Limburg Belgium, where the Turkish adult population, 18 years of age and older, will be screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs), and antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Educational meetings concerning viral hepatitis B will be organized and there will be 3 ways to be screened for HBV: immediately after the educational meetings, at the Outpatient Hepatology Department of Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, and at home visits. Subsequently, participants will be asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic factors, migration history, risk factors for HBV infection (e.g., sharing toothbrushes, HBV-infected family member), and HBV vaccination status. Six months after screening, HBsAg-positive patients will be assessed whether they are under follow-up at the general practitioner or hepatologist. We will also gather information regarding the uptake of vaccination in nonimmunized subjects.Discussion: This study will provide information about the HBV prevalence and distribution of the stages of liver disease in the Turkish population in Belgium. By determining the risk factors for HBV infection, subgroups with an increased prevalence of HBV infection can be identified.</p

Validation of hepatitis C virus RNA detection using capillary blood by finger prick (GenXpert system)-Hepatitis C fingerprick study

To achieve the ambitious goals of the WHO to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as a public health threat by 2030, innovative approaches are needed to improve the uptake for screening and treatment in people who inject drugs (PWID). Important barriers to care are difficult venous access and the two-step approach in current point-of-care tests, using an HCV antibody screening test followed by a confirmatory HCV RNA test. In this study, we aimed to validate the new GenXpert instrument to diagnose HCV RNA by finger prick. This prospective study was conducted in a cohort of PWID in 6 alcohol/drug clinic sites and 1 outreach project in Belgium between January 2018 and March 2019. Plasma and capillary whole-blood samples were collected by venepuncture and finger prick, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of the GenXpert system were compared to the gold standard Artus HCV RNA kit. Of 153 participants enrolled, 147 (96.1%) had results of both the GenXpert system and Artus HCV RNA kit available. HCV RNA was detected in 35 of 147 (23.8%) by the Artus HCV RNA kit and in 36 of 147 (24.8%) by the GenXpert. Median quantitative HCV RNA viral load on finger prick was 28 700 IU/mL (IQR 4070-65 875) vs 1 900 000IU/mL (IQR 416,466-2,265,510) on plasma. The GenXpert instrument had a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 90%-100%) and a specificity of 99.1% (95.1%-99.9%). The overall diagnostic accuracy was 99.3% (96.3%-99.9%). This study validates the excellent performance of the GenXpert instrument to assess HCV RNA in capillary whole blood by finger prick in a PWID cohort