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Immunological and Virological Characterization of Patients With Chronic HBV-HDV Infection: Outcomes and Response to Bulevirtide Treatment

Recruiting
Conditions
Hepatitis D
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT06504485
Lead Sponsor
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Brief Summary

Pharmacological, single-center, non-profit observational study.

The present study is part of a cooperation project between the SC Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico (Milan, Italy), the University of Milan, the University of Parma and Rome Tor Vergata, funded under the call for Research Projects of Significant National Interest - 2022 PNRR Call (Prot. P2022WEXP2).

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus, which requires the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to infect liver cells and propagate. To date, the mechanisms underlying the accelerated disease progression in the natural history of Delta hepatitis are poorly understood, as is the course of the HDV-specific immune response (CD4 and CD8 T cells). As in chronic HBV and HCV infections, the outcome of chronic HDV infection appears to be dictated primarily by the host immune response, which represents a key determinant for virus control or persistence. For HBV/HDV coinfection, the role of T cells has not been well defined, as suitable animal models are lacking and so far few HDV-specific T cell epitopes have been precisely mapped, mainly limited to HLA-B alleles.

The study is divided into two substudies (cross-sectional and longitudinal). The primary objective of the cross-sectional study is to calculate the prevalence of HDV-specific T responses in patients with chronic HBV-HDV infection naïve to treatment with Bulevirtide. The primary objective of the longitudinal study is the change in the prevalence of HDV-specific T responses in patients with chronic HBV-HDV infection during treatment with Bulevirtide compared to baseline (pre-treatment).

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
192
Inclusion Criteria
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Ability to understand and sign the informed consent
  • Chronic HDV infection defined by positivity of HBsAg antigen (HBV) and HDV RNA (HBV-HDV co-infection) for at least 6 months at the time of enrollment.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Co-infection with other viruses (HCV, HIV)
  • Treatment with immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory drugs
  • Other congenital and/or acquired immunodeficiency conditions

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Hepatis Delta in therapyBulevirtidePatients with HDV cirrhosis consecutively started on Bulevirtide therapy during the study enrollment period
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Calculate the prevalence of HDV-specific T responses in patients with chronic HBV-HDV infection naïve to treatment with Bulevirtidethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Prevalence of HDV-specific T responses in patients with chronic HBV-HDV infection naïve to treatment with Bulevirtide

Change in the prevalence of HDV-specific T responses in patients with chronic HBV-HDV infection during treatment with Bulevirtide compared to baseline (pre-treatment)Month 12

Prevalence of HDV-specific T responses in patients with chronic HBV-HDV infection after 12 months of treatment with Bulevirtide compared to baseline (pre-therapy)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Correlate HDV-specific T cell response with stage of liver diseasethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Correlation of HDV-specific T cell response with stage of liver disease

Analyze the role of new HBV serum biomarkers (HBcrAg, HBV RNA, HBsAg isoforms) in predicting the stage of liver diseasethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Quantification of new HBV serum biomarkers (HBcrAg, HBV RNA, HBsAg isoforms) and correlation with the stage of liver disease

Correlate the quantification of HDV RNA within exosomes with the stage of liver diseasethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Correlation between the quantification of HDV RNA within exosomes and the disease phenotype

Investigate the correlation between the genetic heritage of HDV and the stage of liver diseasethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Correlation between the genetic heritage of HDV and the stage of liver disease

Define the transcriptional and molecular signatures of CD8 T cell dysfunction in patients with chronic HBV/HDV coinfectionthrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Transcriptional and molecular signatures of CD8 T cell dysfunction in patients with chronic HBV/HDV coinfection

Understanding the role of virus mutations in the virus's ability to escape CD8 T cell surveillancethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Correlation between HDV mutations and the ability of the virus itself to escape CD8 T cell surveillance

Correlate the prevalence of HDV-specific T cell responses with response to treatment over timethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Correlation between the change in HDV-specific T responses

Analyze the role of new HBV serum biomarkers (HBcrAg, HBV RNA, HBsAg isoforms) in predicting response to treatment with Bulevirtide;through study completion, an average of 2 year

Quantification of new HBV serum biomarkers (HBcrAg, HBV RNA, HBsAg isoforms) and correlation with response to treatment with Bulevirtide

Correlate quantification of HDV RNA within exosomes with response to Bulevirtide treatmentthrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Correlation between the quantification of HDV RNA within exosomes and the response to treatment with Bulevirtide

Investigate the correlation between the genetic heritage of HDV and the response to treatment with Bulevirtidethrough study completion, an average of 2 year

Correlation between HDV genetic heritage and response to treatment with Bulevirtide

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Milan, Italy.

🇮🇹

Milano, Italy

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