Therapy With Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Patients With Genotype 1 HCV Infection Receiving Opiate Substitution Therapy

Overview

Patients with chronic hepatitis C that are under opiate substitution therapy are likely to have psychiatric comorbidities such as depression; hence an Interferon based therapy is contraindicated. Additionally many of these patients have a borderline compliance, which makes it impossible to treat them at specialized hepatological centers. An ideal opportunity to treat this patients is treatment with DAAs (Direct Acting Antiviral) which can be administered daily together with the opiate substitution therapy at a low threshold facility.

Background: Patients with active or previous i.v.-drug abuse and patients receiving opiate substitution therapy (OST) represent a major subgroup of the patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Till some years ago it was held, that patients with a history of i.v.-drug abuse and patients receiving OST should not be considered for interferon-based antiviral treatment because of their poor compliance. However, during the past years it became clear, that patients on OST who are considered to be stable by their physicians are good candidates for antiviral therapy. Several studies have shown that SVR (sustained virological response rates) achieved in these patients are similar to results in patients without a history of i.v. drug abuse. Subgroups of patients receiving OST:Patients receiving OST represent a very heterogeneous population. However, based on empirical observation of the behavior/compliance of each individual patient they can be assigned to one of the following three groups: Group 1: Patients with very good compliance. These patients do not take drugs anymore and demonstrate a very good compliance. If anti HCV therapy is indicated, these patients can be referred to and treated at a hepatologic Center (i.e. hospital). Such patients have been included in various phase III trials of new direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs). Group 2: Patients with a very poor compliance. These patients do not keep appointments (regardless whether it is at a low threshold facility or at a hospital). Due to their lack of compliance antiviral therapy of these patients is not feasible. Group 3: Patients with a borderline compliance. These patients do come to a low threshold facility on a daily basis where they get OST under direct observation of a physician or a nurse. These patients are reluctant to go to specialized hepatitis centers (high inhibition threshold) and hence cannot be treated there. However, anti-HCV treatment can be applied together with OST under direct observation of a physician or a nurse at the low threshold facilities. The "Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien" a "low threshold facility" (LTF): The "Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien" is a facility that offers medical care to patients with active or former i.v. drug abuse (= (ex-)PWIDs). The medical team at these low-threshold facilities (=LTFs) includes general practitioners, specialists in internal medicine, psychiatrists and nurses. In contrast to hospitals (hepatologic centers in Austria with outpatient clinics in a large hospital), where there is a relatively high "psychological" inhibition threshold for PWIDs with CHC, the LTFs are located in "normal" houses. The setting is such that the "psychological" inhibition threshold for PWIDs to go there is low. At the LTFs (ex-)PWIDs can obtain OST on a daily basis under direct observation of a physician or a nurse. Hence, the patients have a high motivation to come to these facilities daily (to avoid withdrawal symptoms - they do not have a similar incentive/interest/motivation to go to a hospital on a regular basis). The direct observed OST prevents potential selling of medication on the black market. Anti-HCV treatment at the "Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien": Univ.-Prof. Dr. Michael Gschwantler, an experienced hepatologist is cooperating with the "Ambulatorium Suchthilfe Wien" (=LTF). He visits the facility at least once a week (and immediately in the case of any serious problem) and takes care of the patients with regards to hepatitis/liver diseases. Prof. Gschwantler does this voluntarily and unsalaried. He performs routine laboratory and sonographic evaluation of the liver directly at the LTF. Prof. Gschwantler has already treated a small number of eligible "group 3 patients" (patients with borderline compliance as described before) with interferon-based treatment directly at the LTF (patients didn't need to go to a hospital). However, beside compliance issues contraindications against interferon (e.g. due to depression) prevent many (ex-)PWIDs from being treated at the moment. Study drug: In this non-interventional study patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, will be treated with Harvoni® (Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir). Harvoni® has been approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. For treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1 infection without liver cirrhosis the recommended duration of treatment is 8 weeks. In this non-interventional study treatment with Harvoni® will be performed exactly according to the label. The study drug will kindly be provided by Gilead.