Said, M., R. E. Etreby, H. Omar, H. Dabees, R. Abdelghafour, M. El-Serafy, and W. Doss, "Fibro-indices versus liver stiffness for prediction of significant fibrosis in hepatitis B virus-infected Egyptian patients; a single-center experience.", Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology, pp. 1-7, 2020. Abstract

: Liver fibrosis assessment is a key factor for disease management in hepatitis B virus (HBV). Several serum biomarkers have been introduced for noninvasive fibrosis assessment. This study aims to evaluate the validity of simple noninvasive indices, namely Fibrosis-4 score (FIB4), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), Goteborg University Cirrhosis Index (GUCI), and fibrosis index in evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic HBV.: 226 patients with chronic HBV genotype D were included. FIB4, APRI, GUCI, and fibrosis index were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to predict ≥F2 fibrosis.: The mean age of patients was 39.00 years and 72.27% of patients were treatment naïve. Patients with ≥F2 hepatic fibrosis had significantly higher FIB-4 (1.58 ± 1.46 vs. 1.15 ± 1.09), APRI (0.68 ± 0.71 vs. 0.43 ± 0.37), GUCI score (0.75 ± 0.94 vs. 0.42 ± 0.29) and Fibrosis index (2.18 ± 0.84 vs. 1.84 ± 0.69). All studied indices were able to diagnose ≥F2 fibrosis. APRI had the highest area under the ROC (AUROC) of 0.67. Predictivity of all indices was higher in on-treatment vs naive patients.: FIB4, APRI, and GUCI scores are acceptable, noninvasive, and cheap simple indices that can be helpful on treatment follow-up of fibrosis regression in the setting of low socioeconomic conditions compared to the relatively expensive fibroscan modality.

El Kassas, M., M. Alboraie, mervat naguib, H. Omar, adel el tahan, I. Moaz, M. Abdellah, S. Ezzat, M. - N. Wifi, A. F. Sherief, et al., "A significant upsurge of body mass index in patients with chronic hepatitis C successfully treated with direct-acting antiviral regimens.", The Turkish journal of gastroenterology : the official journal of Turkish Society of Gastroenterology, vol. 30, issue 8, pp. 708-713, 2019. Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is less data regarding the changes in body mass index (BMI) after treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients with new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). This study aimed to assess the changes in BMI in chronic HCV patients treated with DAAs in Egypt and to explore other factors influencing this change.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of chronic HCV patients who received antiviral therapy with new DAAs in one of Egypt's specialized viral hepatitis treatment centers were retrospectively analyzed. In addition to the routine clinical and laboratory workup, changes in body weight during and after treatment were monitored and BMI was calculated. Viral load was measured at 12 weeks post-treatment to assess a sustained virological response. Patients with documented thyroid abnormalities, bariatric surgery, or ensuing special diets were excluded. BMI of >30 was taken as the cutoff for pa¬tients with obesity.

RESULTS: The study included 162 patients with a mean age of 48.56±11.49 years, of whom 61.1% were males, 16% were treatment-experienced, 12% were diabetic, and 29% were obese. Treatment duration was 12 weeks in 84% of patients and 24 weeks in 16% of patients. There was a significant increase in BMI post-treatment as compared to pretreatment measures (28.68±5.35 vs 28.18±4.55) (p=0.03). BMI changes were constant regardless of cirrhosis or previous treatment experience.

CONCLUSION: Treatment of chronic HCV with DAAs was associated with increased body mass index. Further studies are needed to explore if this effect is secondary to treatment with DAAs or is an improvement in the liver function and lifestyle of treated patients.

Omar, H., W. Elakel, T. Elbaz, M. El Kassas, K. Elsaeed, H. El Shazly, M. Said, M. Yousif, A. A. Gomaa, A. Nasr, et al., "Generic daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir, with or without ribavirin, in treatment of chronic hepatitis C: real-world results from 18 378 patients in Egypt.", Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, vol. 47, issue 3, pp. 421-431, 2018. Abstract

BACKGROUND: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C using combination of sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir (DCV) was used in several clinical trials and multicentre studies, which were somewhat limited to genotypes 1-3. The national program in Egypt is using SOF-DCV combination for large scale treatment.

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of combined SOF-DCV in treating patients with HCV-G4 in a real-world setting.

METHODS: Data and outcome of chronic HCV patients who were treated for 12 weeks with generic medications: DCV 60 mg plus SOF 400 mg ± ribavirin (RBV) within the national hepatitis C treatment program in Egypt are presented. Treatment-naïve patients without cirrhosis were treated without RBV, and those who had cirrhosis or were treatment-experienced (interferon experienced or SOF experienced) received RBV. Efficacy and safety were assessed, and baseline factors associated with sustained virological response at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12) were explored.

RESULTS: During the first 2 months of the programme, 18 378 patients with HCV-G4 started treatment with SOF-DCV with or without RBV. Overall, 95.1% achieved SVR12 (95.4% among patients treated without RBV and 94.7% for patients treated with RBV, P = .32). Treatment was prematurely discontinued in only 1.5% of patients. The most common events leading to discontinuation were patient withdrawal (n = 76) and pregnancy (n = 5). Five deaths occurred within this group.

CONCLUSIONS: Real-world experience of generic SOF-DCV in patients with chronic HCV-G4 proved to be safe and associated with a high SVR12 rate, in patients with different stages of fibrosis.

Alboraie, M., N. Youssef, A. F. Sherief, shimaa afify, M. - N. Wifi, D. Omran, E. Hafez, H. Omar, M. Eltabbakh, M. Abdellah, et al., "Egyptian liver library: An indexed database for liver disease evidence in Egypt.", Arab journal of gastroenterology : the official publication of the Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology, 2019. Abstract

Liver diseases are among the most challenging health care problems worldwide. In Egypt, we established different care programs to combat liver diseases including schistosomiasis and viral hepatitides. A lot of research work addressing liver diseases in Egypt have been published with special focus on these two major fields. Other liver disease seems to be neglected although present and contributing to the liver disease burden in Egypt. In this report we reviewed the available evidence published from Egypt and elucidate areas of weakness and future research needs. Our search for Egyptian liver disease evidence retrieved 4683 articles, 67% of them were relevant to the topic. Out of the relevant articles; 1646/3265 (50.4%) were discussing clinical science, 1131 (34.7%) were discussing basic science and 488 (14.9%) were discussing both basic and clinical sciences. Cairo university (16.8%, n = 513) and Mansoura university (9.3%, n = 285) had the largest number of publications related to liver disease in Egypt respectively. The most commonly reported diseases were hepatitis C in 719/3361 articles (21.4%), parasitic liver infestations in 663 articles (19.7%), hepatocellular carcinoma in 544 articles (16.2%), liver fibrosis or cirrhosis in 537 articles (16%), and drug induced liver injury in 516 articles (15.4%). Most of the reviewed articles (36%) were discussing treatment of chronic liver diseases (n = 1201) followed by diagnostics (28%, n = 940), pathogenesis and pathophysiology (21%, n = 706). This review will direct attention to areas with less research like hepatitis B related liver disease, HIV/HCV co-infections, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to encourage future research in these topics. In conclusion; our results ring a bell inviting the development of a roadmap for liver research in Egypt targeting to put future policies to cover areas of weakness in liver research with an ultimate goal of tackling liver disease and its overwhelming socioeconomic burden in our developing country.

Darweesh, S. K., K. Elsaeed, H. Omar, M. E. Raziky, W. elakel, M. E. Serafy, S. Ismail, A. A. Gomaa, M. Mehrez, M. Elkassas, et al., "High SVR rate following retreatment of non-sustained virological responders to sofosbuvir based anti-HCV therapies regardless RAS testing: A real-life multicenter study.", Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology, 2019. Abstract

: we aimed at evaluating efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir/ribavirin (SOF/DCV/RBV) in treating non-sustained virological responders (non-SVR12) to prior sofosbuvir-based therapy, in the setting of absence of RAS testing in mass treatment, and to determine the optimal timing to start re-treatment. : Real-life prospective observational study including 1,014 non-SVR12 who failed prior treatment with 24-weeks SOF-RBV (n=679, 67%) or 12-weeks SOF- RBV- PEG (n=335, 33%). Patients were retreated with daily sofosbuvir, daclatasvir plus ribavirin for 12 (n=270) or 24 weeks (n=744). The primary efficacy endpoint was SVR12. Safety endpoint was regimen adverse events. : The mean age was 52±9 years (58.48% men). Cirrhosis was documented in 46.98 and 27.5% of SOF-RBV and SOF-RBV-PEG non-responders respectively. Overall, SVR12 was 90.6% [92.2% for 12 weeks therapy and 90.05% for 24 weeks therapy]. Mild adverse events occurred in 5.13% and 32 (3.1%) discontinued treatment; with eight (0.78%) on-treatment mortalities. Multivariate regression revealed that higher baseline FIB4 and shorter interval before starting re-treatment (<6 months) were the independent predictors of non-SVR12. : SOF/DCV/RBV is an effective and safe treatment option for non-responders to prior sofosbuvir-based therapy. Six months after end of initial therapy is an optimum interval before starting retreatment to achieve favorable SVR.

El-Garem, H., M. Abdallah, H. Omar, A. Cordie, S. A. Alem, M. A. Mohey Eldin Elzahry, doaa ghaith, N. H. Abou El-Soud, W. Kamal, A. Elsharkawy, et al., "DAAs therapy associated with improved hepatic fibrosis in HCV-GT4 patients co-infected with HIV.", Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology, pp. 1-6, 2019. Abstract

BACKGROUND: The present work aimed at evaluation of the potential dynamic changes in hepatic fibrosis following treatment of chronic HCV using DAAs in patients coinfected with HIV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 50 HCV/HIV coinfected patients [age; 34.68 ± 10.38 years, 82% men] were included. For all included patients, liver stiffness measured using transient elastography as well as serum liver fibrosis scores; [fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI)] were calculated at baseline and at 12 and 24-weeks following 12 weeks therapy of HCV with once daily sofosbuvir 400 mg plus daclatasvir 60 mg.

RESULTS: Most of the included patients (70%, n = 35) were on anti-retroviral therapy. SVR24 was achieved by 93.48% of the patients. There was significant serial improvement in baseline liver stiffness measurement (LSM), FIB-4 and APRI among responders; [LSM: baseline, 7.05 ± 4.84 kPa vs. 5.66 ± 2.63 kPa at SVR24, p < 0.001], [FIB-4: baseline, 1.24 ± 1.08 vs. 0.93 ± 0.64 at SVR24, p 0.001) and (APRI: baseline, 0.725 ± 0.66 vs. 0.36 ± 0.19at SVR24, p 0.001) respectively.

CONCLUSION: Treatment of HCV patients coinfected with HIV using DAAs is associated with a rapid significant regression in hepatic fibrosis, as evaluated by FibroScan, FIB-4, and APRI scores.

El Kassas, M., M. Alboraie, H. Omar, Y. A. E. Latif, M. A. Algaber, adel el tahan, H. El Halwagy, shimaa afify, M. E. Serafy, K. Elsaeed, et al., "High success rates for the use of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir containing regimens in treatment of naïve and experienced chronic hepatitis C genotype 4: Real world results.", Journal of medical virology, 2019. Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 patient with fixed dose combination of ombitasvir-paritaprevir-ritonavir plus ribavirin (OBV/rPTV/RBV) has been proven efficacy and safety in many clinical trials. The current study reports the efficacy and safety of OBV/rPTV/RBV (for treatment-naïve), and OBV/rPTV/RBV/sofosbuvir (SOF) (for treatment-experienced), in chronic HCV genotype 4 patients in real life settings.

METHODS: Prospective cohort study including all adult chronic HCV genotype 4 patients who were scheduled to receive OBV/rPTV/RBV ± SOF for 12 or 24 weeks in New Cairo Viral Hepatitis Treatment Center. The primary efficacy endpoint was a virologic response at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12). Changes in hematological parameters, liver biochemical profile and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), as well as clinical and laboratory adverse events (AEs) across follow up visits (week 4, end of treatment [EOT], and SVR12), were recorded.

RESULTS: Our study included 325 patients (age; 47.63 ± 12.63 years, 55.38% [n = 180] men). Most of the included patients (89.85%, n = 292) were treatment naïve and only 7% (n = 23) had liver cirrhosis. Overall, SVR12 was attained by 98.44% (316 of 321) of the patients; 97.15% (307 of 316) of patients who received 12 weeks of OBV/rPTV/RBV ± SOF and 100% (9 of 9) of patients who received 24 weeks of OBV/rPTV/RBV as assessed by modified intention to treat analysis. There was a significant improvement of baseline alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, hemoglobin, FIB-4 at SVR12 (P < 0.05). The most common reported AEs were anemia (n = 106), fatigue (n = 41) and elevated indirect bilirubin (n = 37).

CONCLUSION: OBV/rPTV/RBV (±SOF) is a highly effective therapy for chronic HCV patients in real life settings.

Darweesh, S. K., H. Omar, E. medhat, R. A. Abd-Al Aziz, H. Ayman, Y. Saad, and A. Yosry, "The clinical usefulness of elastography in the evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients: A biopsy-controlled study.", European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology, 2019. Abstract

BACKGROUND: We aimed at determination of the usefulness of elastography [acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and FibroScan] for evaluation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study included 60 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (mean age: 45 years) was carried out. All patients were subjected to lab works, liver biopsy, and measurement of liver stiffness by ARFI and FibroScan and steatosis by controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). CAP measurements were adjusted for the presence of NAFLD and presence or absence of diabetes and according to BMI.

RESULTS: Linear regression analysis showed that CAP is an independent predictor for significant hepatic steatosis (P<0.001). No significant difference was found in diagnostic accuracy between adjusted and nonadjusted CAP values for diagnosis of mild (>S1) or significant (>S2) hepatic steatosis (P=0.17 and 0.29 respectively). The median ARFI velocities for F1, F2, F3, and F4 were 0.92, 1.08, 1.07, and 2.58 m/s, respectively. Although there was an overall significant increase in ARFI values across the fibrosis grades (P<0.04), the difference in ARFI values was only significant between fibrosis grades F1 and F4 (P=0.02).

CONCLUSION: Elastography is a promising noninvasive tool for diagnosis and grading of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with good sensitivity and specificity, especially in moderate to marked grades.

Elbaz, T., M. Abdo, H. Omar, E. A. Hassan, A. M. Zaghloul, M. Abdel-Samiee, A. Moustafa, A. Qawzae, M. Gamil, and G. Esmat, "Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir with or without ribavirin in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.", Journal of medical virology, vol. 91, issue 2, pp. 272-277, 2019. Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered as a major public health problem that, worldwide, chronically affects 170 million people. Elderly patients are more likely than younger patients to have increased duration of infection, increased rate of disease progression, and subsequently increased incidence of advanced liver disease. Natural history models predicted that the prevalence of HCV infection and its chronic sequelae as well as extrahepatic manifestations will eventually increase through the next decade and will mostly affect those who are greater than 60 years of age. Moreover, polytherapy and polypharmacy are frequent in elderly patients due to associated comorbidities. As advanced age is associated with increasing risk of development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, elderly patients are in special need of safe and effective antiviral therapies. Achievement of sustained viral responses (SVR) is associated with reduced liver-related complications and overall mortality in such patients with the advanced liver disease. With the recent introduction of interferon-free direct-acting antivirals, successful treatment for chronic HCV infection had dramatically improved, with overall cure rates that exceed 90% SVR. In our study, we aimed to study the efficacy and safety of combined sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin, in management of chronically infected HCV elderly patients who are more than 60 years old.

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