Combination treatment with ledipasvir, sofosbuvir, and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection led to sustained viral response (SVR) rates of 86%-89% among nontransplanted patients and 60%-100% among transplant recipients, according to a study published in the September issue of Gastroenterology.
“Rates of SVR were over 85% in every group of patients with Child-Pugh class [CPC] B decompensated cirrhosis – in those who had and had not undergone liver transplantation, as well as those who were receiving 12 and 24 weeks of treatment,” said Dr. Michael Charlton of Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, and his associates. “Similar response rates were observed in Child-Pugh class C patients who had not undergone liver transplantation. Rates of response were numerically lower in liver transplant recipients with Child-Pugh class C disease, but the small sample size ... makes this a preliminary observation.”
Patients with chronic HCV infection and advanced liver disease have a poor prognosis because of their risk of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma and because they have very limited treatment options. Chances of reinfection are 100% if patients have detectable virus at transplantation, and reinfection increases rates of subsequent graft loss, morbidity, and mortality, the investigators noted.
To assess the recently approved sofosbuvir-ledipasvir regimen, they conducted an open-label, phase II trial (SOLAR-1) of the combination plus ribavirin in 337 HCV-infected patients with advanced liver disease, including transplant recipients. Nearly all (99%) of the patients had HCV genotype 1 infection, while 1% had genotype 4 infection. The investigators randomized patients to receive 90 mg ledipasvir and 400 mg sofosbuvir in a fixed-dose daily regimen for either 12 or 24 weeks in combination with ribavirin, which was dosed based on body weight, tolerance of side effects, and extent of liver disease. Patients with CPC C cirrhosis received lower doses of ribavirin because of increased risk of hemotoxicity (Gastroenterology 2015 May 15. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2015.05.010).
Nontransplanted patients who had decompensated cirrhosis achieved SVR12 or SVR24 rates of 86%-89%, even if they had CPC C decompensated disease, the researchers reported. “Our results also demonstrate that SVR12 in patients with decompensated cirrhosis is associated with early improvements in CPC and MELD [Model for End-Stage Liver Disease] scores, suggesting that eradication of the virus can rapidly improve hepatic function by attenuating the injury and inflammation due to HCV replication,” they said. Patients with CPC B disease also had significant improvements in albumin and bilirubin levels after 4 weeks of treatment.
Among transplant recipients who were noncirrhotic or were in compensated cirrhosis, SVR rates ranged from 96% to 98%, regardless of treatment duration or presence of cirrhosis, Dr. Charlton and associates reported. Among transplant recipients with decompensated cirrhosis, SVR rates were 86%-88% for the subgroup with CPC B disease, but were 60% for CPC C patients who were treated for 12 weeks, and were 75% for CPC C patients who were treated for 24 weeks. In contrast, all six patients with fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis achieved SVR and also experienced large drops in total bilirubin levels within 2-4 weeks of starting treatment, the researchers said. Finally, among the seven patients who underwent liver transplantation either during treatment or before posttreatment week 12, six achieved virologic response after surgery, and one died of multiorgan failure and septic shock 1 day after testing negative for HCV RNA.
In all, 13 patients (4%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events, primarily liver decompensation, the researchers reported. Adverse events that led more than one patient to stop treatment included sepsis, renal failure, dyspnea, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Patients were more likely to stop taking ribavirin if they were treated for 24 weeks or had worsening disease. Ten patients died on study, but none of the deaths were thought to be related to treatment, the researchers wrote.
Dr. Charlton disclosed ties with Gilead Sciences, maker of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir. Gilead funded the study. Four coauthors reported having no conflicts; the other 25 investigators reported employment or other financial ties with numerous pharmaceutical companies.