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According to WHO, about 150- 200 million people are currently infected with the HCV virus worldwide. Recently, in the professional literature, the number of publications on the role of vitamin D in patients with viral hepatitis C has increased as vitamin D metabolism occurs with the participation of the liver and its deficiency is associated with an increased risk of infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of seasonal factor on vitamin D (25 hydroxycalciferol) levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C and healthy subjects. The study involved 100 patients in the registry of patients with chronic viral hepatitis in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The prevalence and deficiency of vitamin D in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C and conditionally healthy subjects at different times of the year were determined, which showed the presence or absence of a seasonal effect on serum 25(OH)D level. Patients were divided into two groups, depending on the time of the year (autumn-winter and spring-summer), in which the level of 25 (OH) D was determined. The serum was metabolised by vitamin D, which is synthesized by the liver – 25 hydroxycalciferol (25 (OH) D), an indicator of the supply of vitamin D to the human body. Vitamin D levels were evaluated according to the M.F. Holick classification. According to the level of vitamin D patients were divided into 3 groups (patients with normal level, insufficient (suboptimal) level and vitamin D deficiency). The results of the study showed no effect of seasonal factor on the level of 25 (OH) D in the serum of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C. Vitamin D levels are controlled by the time of the year: in spring and summer this indicator is normal, in autumn and winter – seasonal decrease in vitamin D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present the study of the level of expression of miR-196a in 74 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C with the 1st genotype of HCV, based on previous experience in patients with antiviral therapy regimens containing interferon. The patients were divided into two groups, depending on the previous experience of antiviral therapy with circuits containing interferon – 21 patients who failed after antiviral therapy regimens containing interferon (group 1) and the comparison group (group 2) – 53 naive patients. To study the level of expression of miR-196a (miR-196a), a two-stage study according to the manufacturer's protocol was used. First, total RNA was isolated from the plasma by the method of phenol-chloroform extraction. Futher reverse transcription was performed using a kit for reverse transcription of miR TaqMan® (Applied Biosystems, USA), specific loop primers to achieve mature miRNA, snRNA U6 (as an endogenous control gene), and 10 ng of total RNA. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed using TaqMan® miRNA analysis. In order to optimize the prediction of response to antiviral therapy and the use of optimal treatment regimens for problem patients with treatment failure regimens containing interferon, analysis using ROC curves was used. The average level of expression of miR-196a in patients with chronic hepatitis C was evaluated. In the 1st group of patients it was 0.011 (IQR: 0.002; 0.310) and in the comparison group – 0.346 (IQR: 0.054; 1.239) at p=0.012 by U criterion. The conducted ROC analysis showed that the studied miR-196a could differentiate patients with chronic viral hepatitis C with HCV genotype 1, depending on previous experience of antiviral therapy, namely, patients with treatment failure regimens containing interferons and naive. AUC=0.688 (95% CI 0.570-0.791; p=0.017), J=0.40, Se=57.14%, Sp=83.02%. It gives additional opportunities for correction of therapeutic tactics. Therefore, the level of expression of miR-196a (<-1,75) may be an additional biomarker in the pathogenesis of HCV-infection, which can then be used in the monitoring and treatment of patients. Low expression of miR-196a may be the basis for prescribing more effective direct-acting antiviral therapy to patients and will allow personalizing therapeutic tactics in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present the experience of antiviral treatment of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (HVHC) within the framework of the State Target Social Program for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis until 2016 and the local program "Population Health of Dnipropetrovsk Region for 2015- 2019". The authors reviewed the treatment regimens that can be used in patients according to the latest recommendations of WHO and international organizations on the study of the liver (EASL, APASL and AASLD). The authors discussed the problematic issues of the effectiveness of treatment regimens containing interferon and ribavirin, as well as interferon-free regimens of therapy. At the first stage of the work, the authors noted the coverage of with antiviral therapy of HVHC patients in the Dnipropetrovsk region, taking into account the patients followed up the Unified electronic registry of patients of adult age with chronic viral hepatitis B, C and B + C. 3875 patients are included in the register, 3334 have HVHC, of them - 2795 patients with viremia. Antiviral therapy was received by 1038 patients with chronic viral hepatitis, including those with HVHC - 912 patients. In 2017, 725 people with HVHC completed antiviral therapy, the coverage of treatment was 21.75% of the total need, based on the number of patients in the Registry. As a result of treatment, 22 patients with the 1st genotype of HCV, had failed therapy with interferoncontaining regimens. However, in a detailed analysis, the authors found that in one case there was a reinfection with another HCV genotype. Relapse was determined in 14 (63%) patients, partial virological response in 3 (14%) patients and non-response in 4 (23%) patients. At the second stage of the work, the re-treatment regimen was evaluated in patients with treatment failure after the use of PEG-IFN regimens using interferon-free regimens containing directacting antiviral drugs (DAA) for 12 weeks in 21 patients with an average age of 42.4±2.89 years, with the 1st HCV genotype, with an average disease duration of 6.52±1.05 years. There were 14 men with a mean age of 39.67±4.16 years and 9 women with a mean age of 46.22±4.01 years. The level of fibrosis: F1 - 8 people, F2 - 7, F3 - 3 and F4 - 3. 3D treatment regimen was used for retreatment including the following: Ombitasvir / Paritaprevir / Ritonavir + Dasabuvir + Ribavirin (3D+RBV) in 16 patients, moreover, 3 of them had compensated liver cirrhosis. 5 patients with HCV genotype 1 without the presence of liver cirrhosis were given the following scheme: Ledipasvir + Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin (SOF+LDV+RBV). All patients had a sustained virological response (SVR-24) and the effectiveness of the antiviral therapy was rated as 100%. Also two clinical cases of treatment of HVHC in patients with antiviral therapy failure are presented. For further implementation of the WHO strategy for the elimination of viral hepatitis, it is necessary to continue the work on the formation of the Registry of patients with chronic viral hepatitis in order to improve the provision of care to patients in this category. Further study of the issue of personalization of antiviral therapy and minimization of risks that adversely affect its results are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the adaptation data of the quality of life questionnaire (QOL) in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (CVHC). Ball score of QOL of patients with CVHC was 5.09±1.04, 2nd group (with co-infection with HIV/ HCV) - 4.60±1.13, control group 5.92±0.52 (p<0.05)). The results of the analysis show that co-infection HIV / HCV is a serious problem for patients and significantly affects QOL. The use o f the QOL questionnaire for chronic liver disease is a sensitive tool for measuring QOL in patients with CVHC and co-infection HIV/ HCV. This informative and economical method can be implemented to assess the patient's health both at the group and individual levels in patients with chronic liver disease in the population o f Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]