BACKGROUND: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the ITPA gene are associated with haemolytic anaemia in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon-ribavirin (RBV). Information in patients treated with interferon-free, direct-acting antivirals (DAA) is scarce. METHODS: Median haemoglobin (Hb) levels were compared at baseline and at week 4, when ribavirin concentration achieves steady state, in all consecutive chronic hepatitis C patients treated with oral DAA plus RBV at our clinic. RESULTS: Median Hb drop in 55 patients was greater in rs1127354-CC than -CA/AA (1.8 versus 0.7 g/dl; P=0.029), and in rs6051702-AA than -AC/CC carriers (2.2 versus 1.1 g/dl; P=0.016). Eleven (20%) patients experienced severe anaemia, defined as Hb drop >3 g/dl or to <10 g/dl. All of them were rs6051702-AA. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline testing of rs6051702 may identify the subset of patients at greatest risk for RBV-induced anaemia using interferon-free hepatitis C therapies.
BACKGROUND: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the ITPA gene are associated with haemolytic anaemia in chronic hepatitis Cpatients treated with pegylated interferon-ribavirin (RBV). Information in patients treated with interferon-free, direct-acting antivirals (DAA) is scarce. METHODS: Median haemoglobin (Hb) levels were compared at baseline and at week 4, when ribavirin concentration achieves steady state, in all consecutive chronic hepatitis Cpatients treated with oral DAA plus RBV at our clinic. RESULTS: Median Hb drop in 55 patients was greater in rs1127354-CC than -CA/AA (1.8 versus 0.7 g/dl; P=0.029), and in rs6051702-AA than -AC/CC carriers (2.2 versus 1.1 g/dl; P=0.016). Eleven (20%) patients experienced severe anaemia, defined as Hb drop >3 g/dl or to <10 g/dl. All of them were rs6051702-AA. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline testing of rs6051702 may identify the subset of patients at greatest risk for RBV-induced anaemia using interferon-free hepatitis C therapies.
Authors: Aparna Vasanthakumar; Justin W Davis; Manal Abunimeh; Jonas Söderholm; Jiuhong Zha; Emily O Dumas; Daniel E Cohen; Jeffrey F Waring; Martin Lagging Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-05-31 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Eva Zusinaite; Aleksandr Ianevski; Diana Niukkanen; Minna M Poranen; Magnar Bjørås; Jan Egil Afset; Tanel Tenson; Vidya Velagapudi; Andres Merits; Denis E Kainov Journal: Viruses Date: 2018-08-12 Impact factor: 5.048