Thomas C.S. Martin

HCV reinfection incidence and treatment outcome among HIV-positive MSM in London

Objective:Liver disease secondary to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the context of HIV infection is one of the leading non-AIDS causes of death. Sexual transmission of HCV infection among HIV-positive MSM appears to be leading to increased reports of acute HCV infection. Reinfection after successful treatment or spontaneous clearance is reported among HIV-positive MSM but the scale of reinfection is unknown. We calculate and compare HCV reinfection rates among HIV-positive MSM after spontaneous clearance and successful medical treatment of infection. Design:Retrospective analysis of HIV-positive MSM with sexually acquired HCV who subsequently spontaneously cleared or underwent successful HCV treatment between 2004 and 2012. Results:Among 191 individuals infected with HCV, 44 were reinfected over 562 person-years (py) of follow-up with an overall reinfection rate of 7.8/100 py [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.8–10.5]. Eight individuals were subsequently reinfected a second time at a rate of 15.5/100 py (95% CI 7.7–31.0). Combining all reinfections, 20% resulted in spontaneous clearance and treatment sustained viral response rates were 73% (16/22) for genotypes one and four and 100% (2/2) for genotypes two and three. Among 145 individuals with a documented primary infection, the reinfection rate was 8.0 per 100 py (95% CI 5.7–11.3) overall, 9.6/100 py (95% CI 6.6–14.1) among those successfully treated and 4.2/100 py (95% CI 1.7–10.0) among those who spontaneously cleared. The secondary reinfection rate was 23.2/100 py (95% CI 11.6–46.4). Conclusion:Despite efforts at reducing risk behaviour, HIV-positive MSM who clear HCV infection remain at high risk of reinfection. This emphasizes the need for increased sexual education, surveillance and preventive intervention work.

Prioritization of HCV treatment in the direct-acting antiviral era: An economic evaluation

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How should HCV treatment be prioritized in the direct-acting antiviral era? An economic evaluation including population prevention benefits.

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Can Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment as Prevention Reverse the HCV Epidemic Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United Kingdom? Epidemiological and Modeling Insights

Epidemiological data and modeling suggest a continuing hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic among human immunodeficiency virus-diagnosed men who have sex with men in the United Kingdom. Substantial reductions in HCV transmission could be achieved through scale-up of HCV treatment and behavioral intervention.

Discontinuation of Atripla as first-line therapy in HIV-1 infected individuals.

Background:Central nervous system (CNS) adverse events are common with initiation of efavirenz, but these are often described as transient. We aimed to describe the outcomes of individuals commencing Atripla (Gilead Sciences Inc, Foster City, California; Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Princeton, New Jersey, USA) as a first-line regimen. Methods:We performed a retrospective case-based analysis of all individuals within our HIV cohort who had received Atripla as their first antiretroviral combination. In individuals who discontinued Atripla data was collected on evolution of adverse events. Results:Four hundred and seventy-two individuals commenced Atripla as first-line therapy at 12 months, 383 individuals (81%) remained on Atripla with 98% achieving HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/ml (on treatment analysis). CNS toxicity was the commonest reason for switching therapy in 63 (71%) cases. The median duration of first reported CNS toxicity was 27 days (IQR 7–104 days) and the commonest reported symptoms were nightmares or vivid dreams in 28 (44%), insomnia in 27 (43%) and depression in 22 (35%). In those with CNS toxicity, six (10%) switched at 0–4 weeks, four (6%) at 4–12 weeks, 30 (48%) at 12–52 weeks and 23 (36%) changed regimen 52–96 weeks after commencing Atripla. Among those with available documentation 25 of 63 (40%) had reported improvement or resolution of their CNS side effects. Discussion:One-fifth of all individuals commencing Atripla will need to switch therapy, often for adverse events. The commonest reason for switch in our cohort was CNS toxicity, which although it may develop shortly after initiation may persist, ultimately leading to discontinuation of Atripla months or years later.

HCV reinfection incidence and spontaneous clearance rates in HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Western Europe

BACKGROUND & AIMS Moderate cure rates of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections with pegylated interferon and ribavirin have been described in the last decade in men who have sex with men (MSM), who are also coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, a subsequent high incidence of HCV reinfections has been reported regionally in men who both clear the infection spontaneously or who respond to treatment. METHODS Retrospective analysis of reinfections in HIV infected MSM in eight centers from Austria, France, Germany, and the UK within the NEAT network between May 2002 and June 2014. RESULTS Of 606 individuals who cleared HCV spontaneously or were successfully treated, 149 (24.6%) presented with a subsequent HCV reinfection. Thirty out of 70 (43%) who cleared again or were successfully treated, presented with a second reinfection, 5 with a third, and one with a fourth reinfection. The reinfection incidence was 7.3/100 person-years (95% CI 6.2-8.6). We found a trend for lower incidence among individuals who had spontaneously cleared their incident infection than among individuals who were treated (Hazard ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.38-1.02, p=0.06). Spontaneous clearance of reinfection was associated with ALT levels >1000IU/ml and spontaneous clearance of a prior infection. CONCLUSIONS HCV reinfection is an issue of major concern in HIV-positive MSM. Prevention strategies are needed for high risk groups to reduce morbidity and treatment costs. HIV-positive MSM with a prior HCV infection should be tested every 3 to 6months for reinfection. Those who had achieved a reinfection should be tested every 3months. LAY SUMMARY We evaluated the occurrence of HCV reinfection in HIV-positive men who have sex with men. We found an alarming incidence of 7.3/100 person-years. Prevention measures need to address this specific subgroup of patients at high risk for HCV.

Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia in the low-transmission setting: the role for a population-based transmission-blocking vaccine for malaria elimination

Plasmodium vivax remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality across the Americas, Horn of Africa, East and South East Asia. Control of transmission has been hampered by emergence of chloroquine resistance and several intrinsic characteristics of infection including asymptomatic carriage, challenges with diagnosis, difficulty eradicating the carrier state and early gametocyte appearance. Complex human-parasite-vector immunological interactions may facilitate onward infection of mosquitoes. Given these challenges, new therapies are being explored including the development of transmission to mosquito blocking vaccines. Herein, the case supporting the need for transmission-blocking vaccines to augment control of P. vivax parasite transmission and explore factors that are limiting eradication efforts is discussed.

HCV reinfection among HIV‐positive men who have sex with men: A pragmatic approach

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P781 SPONTANEOUS CLEARANCE RATES INCREASE WITH HCV REINFECTION EPISODE IN HIV-POSITIVE MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) INDEPENDENT OF HCV SUBTYPE

P781 SPONTANEOUS CLEARANCE RATES INCREASE WITH HCV REINFECTION EPISODE IN HIV-POSITIVE MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) INDEPENDENT OF HCV SUBTYPE P. Ingiliz, C. Boesecke, T.C. Martin, S. Mauss, A. Rodger, M. Mandorfer, A. Baumgarten, H.-J. Stellbrink, S. Bhagani, J.K. Rockstroh, M. Nelson, NEAT Study Group. Medical Center for Infectious Diseases (MIB), Berlin, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; HIV Department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Center for HIV and Hepatogastroenterology, Duesseldorf, Germany; Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria; ICH Study Center, Hamburg, Germany E-mail: p_ingiliz@web.de

Understanding and Addressing Hepatitis C Virus Reinfection Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Hepatitis C virus reinfection rates among men who have sex with men are high. Factors associated with infection point to varied sexual and drug-related risks that could be targeted for interventions to prevent infection/reinfection. Modeling indicates that tackling increasing incidence and high reinfection rates requires high levels of hepatitis C virus treatment combined with behavioral interventions. Enhanced testing strategies and prompt retreating of reinfection may be required to promptly diagnosed reinfections. Behavioral interventions studies addressing reinfection are required. Other interventions include traditional harm reduction interventions, adapted behavioral interventions, and interventions to prevent harms related to ChemSex and other risk factors.