France Recherche Nord & Sud SIDA HIV-Hepatites

We assessed cumulative detection and determinants of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) in men who have sex with men living with human immunodeficiency virus and who underwent 3 visits over 2 years, with cytology and high-resolution anoscopy, within the ANRS-EP57-APACHES study. The cumulative HSIL detection rate was 33% (134 of 410), of which 48% HSILs were detected at baseline. HSIL detection varied considerably by center (from 13% to 51%). The strongest HSIL determinants were baseline human papillomavirus 16 (adjusted odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 3.6–18.9) and p16/Ki67 (4.6 [2.3–9.1]). Repeated annual cytology and high-resolution anoscopy improved HSIL detection but did not fully compensate for between-center heterogeneity.

Failure to achieve sustained virological response (SVR) with hepatitis C virus (HCV) direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-based regimens is commonly associated with emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs). Retreatment of patients who failed prior DAAs remains challenging. The aim of this prospective and randomized study was to evaluate the efficacy (primary endpoint: SVR 12 weeks after end of treatment [SVR12]) and safety of sofosbuvir + grazoprevir/elbasvir + ribavirin for 16 or 24 weeks in patients who had failed to achieve SVR on previous NS5A- or NS3-based therapy and with evidence of RASs at failure.

Patients were chronically infected with HCV genotype 1 or 4. Most of them had advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis (liver stiffness 5.8-48.8 kPa).

All patients achieved HCV RNA below the lower limit of quantification (either target detected [unquantifiable] or target not detected) during treatment. SVR12 was achieved by 25 of 26 patients. The only patient who did not reach SVR was a patient who died, but HCV RNA was negative at this time (5 weeks after stopping treatment). No patient discontinued treatment because of adverse events or virological failure. Globally, treatment was well tolerated.

Our findings support the concept of retreating with sofosbuvir + grazoprevir/elbasvir + ribavirin, for 16 weeks, genotype 1 or 4 DAA-experienced patients with proven NS5A or NS3 RASs.

NCT02647632.

Few direct anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) agents have been studied in difficult-to-treat null responder and cirrhotic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected patients. Daclatasvir and asunaprevir combined with pegylated interferon/ribavirin (peg-IFN/RBV) have shown promising results in HCV-monoinfected patients.

An open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study was conducted in HIV/HCV genotype 1/4-coinfected patients who were null responders to prior peg-IFN/RBV standard therapy and on a raltegravir-based regimen with HIV RNA <400 copies/mL. They received a 4-week lead-in phase with peg-IFN/RBV, followed by 24 weeks of asunaprevir (100 mg twice daily), daclatasvir (60 mg once daily), and peg-IFN/RBV. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12) using intent-to-treat analysis.

Seventy-five patients were included, of whom 27 (36%) had cirrhosis. The median baseline CD4 count was 748 (interquartile range, 481-930) cells/µL. The global SVR12 rate was 96.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88.8%-99.2%; n = 72/75), 92.6% (95% CI, 75.7%-99.1%; n = 25/27) in cirrhotic patients, 94.6% (95% CI, 81.8%-99.3%; n = 35/37) in genotype 1 patients, and 97.4% (95% CI, 86.2%-99.9%; n = 37/38) in genotype 4 patients. Six patients (8%) stopped HCV therapy prematurely: 2 due to HCV breakthrough, 4 to adverse events (1 lung cancer, 3 infections). One patient with cirrhosis (with baseline platelet count <150 000 platelets/µL and albuminemia <35 g/L) died from multiorgan failure. Overall, 36 serious adverse events occurred in 21 (28%) patients. No HIV breakthrough was observed.

In HIV/HCV genotype 1/4-coinfected null responders, a 24-week regimen combining daclatasvir, asunaprevir, and peg-IFN/RBV was associated with a very high cure rate. The safety profile was acceptable, even though cirrhotic patients with low albuminemia and platelets should be monitored closely. This combination is a new option in this difficult-to-treat population.

NCT01725542.