Active clinical trials for "Hepatitis C"

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a 9-month psychosocial intervention that will assist patients with hepatitis C in overcoming barriers that prevent them from becoming appropriate candidates for interferon therapy.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of autoantibody production during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. 10-50% of individuals with HCV have symptoms of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). By studying the B cells from HCV-infected individuals with and without MC, as well as from healthy controls, we hope to gain insight into the mechanisms of autoantibody production and develop new strategies for treatment of MC.

Aim To evaluate the effects of peginterferon and ribavirin therapy on the immune response in chronic HCV genotype 1,2 or 3 patients before, during and after treatment. Background Treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) has shown a remarkable success. However, genotype 1 patients have reduced response rates. A better understanding and improvement of these results can now be considered the greatest challenge. In chronically infected patients, HCV-specific immune responses are generally weak, narrowly focused, and often dysfunctional. The presence of HCV-specific cells suppressing the immune response (regulatory T-lymphocytes=Treg) are able to suppress the immune response. These Treg are possibly responsible for the impaired immune response. Previous studies have indicated increased Treg frequency and activity of immune regulating mechanisms, locally in the liver, as a result of HCV re-infection. Hence, these Data highlight the importance of monitoring intrahepatic immune responses in addition to peripheral immune responses. Using the minimally-invasive technique of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), it is now possible to obtain safe and frequent liver samples to monitor local antiviral immune responses in chronic HCV patients during antiviral therapy. Rationale and hypothesis of the study Our previous studies and current literature support the concept that Treg may contribute to HCV persistence by suppressing HCV-spec immune responses. The current study is designed to examine if peginterferon and ribavirin therapy affects the activity of Treg and DC, and if this results in enhanced HCV-specific immune responses. Design Single centre, translational and observational open label study with one arm of 20 genotype 1 patients and one arm of 7 genotype 2/3 patients.

The purpose of our prospective study was to evaluate the value of Doppler parameters and compare the diagnostic accuracy of Doppler parameters with various biochemical indices in predicting significant hepatic fibrosis (≥ F2) and cirrhosis (F4) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

Chronic hepatitis C may relapse in simple chronic hepatitis C patients who initially obtained sustained virologic responses. Although the HCV SVR could be maintained in around 90%, the remaining 10% of these patients may develop hepatitis C relapse during follow-up. Therefore, it is important to follow up the long-term of these patients with dual chronic hepatitis B and C. From another aspect, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, the virologic and serologic responses may also not be durable. Alternatively, previous studies suggested that the therapeutic efficacy might not be seen in the study period, and incremental response might occur during long-term follow-up. Therefore it is also important to clarify the long-term outcome of treatment in this dually infected population. Evaluation of the long term effects of treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C/ hepatitis B co-Infection and chronic hepatitis C in the original study ML17862 is important. This present protocol is thus to assess whether the HCV SVR is sustained and to assess the durability of the HBV virologic and serologic responses or any incremental response during a 5-year follow-up period, including six months after end of the therapy in the original study and an additional 4 and half years in this project (5 years overall follow-up after the end of treatment). Specifically, we wish to assess the (1) sustained virologic response (SVR) of HCV in both populations, (2) incidence of HBsAg loss and HBsAg seroconversion (HBsAg loss and appearance of anti-HBs) in dually infected population, (3) ALT normalization or flare off-treatment during both populations, (4) reductions of HCV RNA from the original baseline levels in the two patient populations, and (5) reduction of serum HBV DNA off-treatment in the dually infected population.

This study will collect quantities of white blood cells from patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) for research on the interactions between HCV and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in people infected with both of these agents. Several studies have shown that infection with HIV adversely affects liver disease due to HCV. Patients 18 years of age and older who are infected with both HCV and HIV or with HCV alone may be eligible for this study. Candidates must not have liver failure and must not be undergoing treatment for HCV at the time of enrollment. Participants will undergo leukapheresis to collect white blood cells. This procedure allows collection of larger numbers of cells than would be possible with simple blood drawing. For the procedure, blood is removed through a needle in the vein of one arm and spun in a machine that separates the blood into its components. The white cells are extracted and the rest of the blood is re-infused through the same needle or through a needle in the other arm. The procedure takes approximately 1-3 hours, depending on the amount of white cells being collected. A maximum of three leukapheresis procedures are done. If additional procedures are required, the patient will sign a new consent form. Procedures will be limited to no more than three times a year, or once every 4 months.

The project will evaluate cost and treatment outcomes of a simplified Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) testing, treatment and care model integrated with HIV testing and treatment among key affected populations in Ukraine.

This is a retrospective study, all HIV-infected individuals followed up at the three designated HIV clinics in Hong Kong with and without HBV and/or HCV co-infection will be included in the analysis. The incidence and mortality of HCC among HIV-infected individuals with and without HBV/HCV co-infection in an Asian population will be determined.

A multicentric, observational, open-design study conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sofosdac® 400mg/60mg tablets treatment in 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV)

Data regarding hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after directly acting antivirals (DAAs) given for hepatitis C virus treatment are contradictory. Surprisingly, some studies reported that DAAs are accompanied with higher HCC recurrence. But, other studies showed no rise or even decrease in HCC recurrence. Most of these studies were retrospective and some were non-randomized prospective studies. Here investigators aim to perform a randomized controlled trial to study this issue.