Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis C

Background The Netherlands has a low hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence, estimated at 0.16%. Previous studies have shown that up to 30% of the diagnosed HCV population in the Netherlands has been lost to follow-up (LTFU). Retrieval of these patients could halt progression of liver disease in infecte...

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Main Authors: Joost PH Drenth, Cas J Isfordink, Sylvia M Brakenhoff, Marleen van Dijk, Marc van der Valk, Rob J de Knegt, Joop E Arends
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-12-01
Series:BMJ Open Gastroenterology
Online Access:https://bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000396.full
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author Joost PH Drenth
Cas J Isfordink
Sylvia M Brakenhoff
Marleen van Dijk
Marc van der Valk
Rob J de Knegt
Joop E Arends
author_facet Joost PH Drenth
Cas J Isfordink
Sylvia M Brakenhoff
Marleen van Dijk
Marc van der Valk
Rob J de Knegt
Joop E Arends
author_sort Joost PH Drenth
collection DOAJ
description Background The Netherlands has a low hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence, estimated at 0.16%. Previous studies have shown that up to 30% of the diagnosed HCV population in the Netherlands has been lost to follow-up (LTFU). Retrieval of these patients could halt progression of liver disease in infected patients, reduce the number of infected individuals and limit HCV transmission. Several regional Dutch retrieval projects have already been executed, which demonstrated that retrieval is feasible. Therefore, we initiated a nationwide retrieval project, aiming to achieve microelimination in previously diagnosed but LTFU patients with chronic HCV through retrieval.Methods Laboratory records will be used to identify possible patients with chronic hepatitis C, defined as either a positive most recent HCV RNA or positive HCV antibodies without known RNA result. Reviewing patient records and obtaining current contact information from municipality databases will identify LTFU patients who are eligible for retrieval. These patients will be invited for outpatient clinic care. The primary outcome of the study is the total number of LTFU patients who have been successfully linked to care.Discussion Hepatitis C ELimination In the NEtherlands (CELINE) is within the remit of WHO elimination targets and the Dutch National Hepatitis Plan. The methodology of CELINE is based on previously conducted regional retrieval projects and is designed to overcome some of their limitations. After ethical approval was obtained in 2018, the first centre initiated retrieval in 2018 and the project is expected to finish in 2021.Trial registration number NCT04208035.
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spelling doaj-art-b1d629949c734904a082ad49c3b88f212024-12-14T14:55:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Gastroenterology2054-47742020-12-017110.1136/bmjgast-2020-000396Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis CJoost PH Drenth0Cas J Isfordink1Sylvia M Brakenhoff2Marleen van Dijk3Marc van der Valk4Rob J de Knegt5Joop E Arends6Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the NetherlandsDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsHIV Monitoring Foundation, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the NetherlandsDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the NetherlandsBackground The Netherlands has a low hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence, estimated at 0.16%. Previous studies have shown that up to 30% of the diagnosed HCV population in the Netherlands has been lost to follow-up (LTFU). Retrieval of these patients could halt progression of liver disease in infected patients, reduce the number of infected individuals and limit HCV transmission. Several regional Dutch retrieval projects have already been executed, which demonstrated that retrieval is feasible. Therefore, we initiated a nationwide retrieval project, aiming to achieve microelimination in previously diagnosed but LTFU patients with chronic HCV through retrieval.Methods Laboratory records will be used to identify possible patients with chronic hepatitis C, defined as either a positive most recent HCV RNA or positive HCV antibodies without known RNA result. Reviewing patient records and obtaining current contact information from municipality databases will identify LTFU patients who are eligible for retrieval. These patients will be invited for outpatient clinic care. The primary outcome of the study is the total number of LTFU patients who have been successfully linked to care.Discussion Hepatitis C ELimination In the NEtherlands (CELINE) is within the remit of WHO elimination targets and the Dutch National Hepatitis Plan. The methodology of CELINE is based on previously conducted regional retrieval projects and is designed to overcome some of their limitations. After ethical approval was obtained in 2018, the first centre initiated retrieval in 2018 and the project is expected to finish in 2021.Trial registration number NCT04208035.https://bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000396.full
spellingShingle Joost PH Drenth
Cas J Isfordink
Sylvia M Brakenhoff
Marleen van Dijk
Marc van der Valk
Rob J de Knegt
Joop E Arends
Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis C
BMJ Open Gastroenterology
title Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis C
title_full Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis C
title_fullStr Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis C
title_full_unstemmed Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis C
title_short Hepatitis C elimination in the Netherlands (CELINE): study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow-up patients with chronic hepatitis C
title_sort hepatitis c elimination in the netherlands celine study protocol for nationwide retrieval of lost to follow up patients with chronic hepatitis c
url https://bmjopengastro.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000396.full
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