Aims and objectives
To evaluate early changes in liver stiffness (LS) as non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis measured with Point Shear Wave Elastography (p-SWE) in patients with HCV infection treated with direct action antiviral therapy (DAAs) by comparing prior-treatment and post-treatment measurements.
Methods and materials
Fortyfive patients (12 F,
33 M,
mean age 58 years) with HCV infection,
eligible for DAAs treatment,
were subjected to hepatic elastosonography [by philips IU22 (ElastPQ)] before treatment and at a distance ranging from 1 to 6 months post-treatment (mean: 3.9 months).
In the post-therapy evaluation,
8 patients classified as F0-F1 and F2 were excluded for statistical purposes and one F4 patient was excluded for the non-completion of the therapy.
Sustained Virological Response (SVR) was evaluated for all patients,
with HCV-RNA determination at 24 weeks...
Results
A SVR was obtained in 33/36 (91.67%) patients,
F4 or F3 prior to treatment.
Overall,
a significant reduction in LS values was observe both in F4 and F3 patients.
In 17 (47.2%) patients with F4 stage before treatment,
the mean LS value was reduced from 16.53 kPa to 12.66 kPa in post-treatment control.
In 19 (52.8%) patients with F3 stage prior to treatment,
mean LS decreased from 9.02 kPa in pre-treatment to 6.83 kPa in post-treatment control.
There was also a significant reduction in APRI...
Conclusion
The results of our preliminary experience show an overall reduction in LS values in patients with a SVR after treatment with DAAs.
P-SWE appears to be a valid and effective method for evaluating the response to antiviral therapy.
References
Arena U,
Vizzutti F,
Corti G,
Ambu S,
Stasi C,
Bresci S,
Moscarella S,
Boddi V,
Petrarca A,
Laffi G,
Marra F,
Pinzani M.
Acute viral hepatitis increases liver stiffness values measured by transient elastography.
Hepatology 2008;47(2):380-4.
Arima Y,
Kawabe N,
Hashimoto S,
Harata M,
Nitta Y,
Murao M,
Nakano T,
Shimazaki H,
Kobayashi K,
Ichino N,
Osakabe K,
Nishikawa T,
Okumura A,
Ishikawa T,
Yoshioka K.
Reduction of liver stiffness by interferon treatment in the patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatol Res 2010;40(4):383-92
Bachofner...