We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Changes in Liver Stiffness and Markers of Liver Synthesis and Portal Hypertension following Hepatitis C Virus Eradication in Cirrhotic Individuals.
- Authors
Armandi, Angelo; Rosso, Chiara; Troshina, Giulia; Pérez Diaz Del Campo, Nuria; Marinoni, Chiara; Nicolosi, Aurora; Caviglia, Gian Paolo; Saracco, Giorgio Maria; Bugianesi, Elisabetta; Ciancio, Alessia
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Liver cirrhosis is a dynamic process that may display improvements when the etiological factor is removed. In this retrospective study of HCV-cured cirrhotic patients, we evaluated changes in liver synthesis, surrogate markers of portal hypertension as well as liver stiffness before starting the antiviral treatment and following successful viral eradication. The advent of direct antiviral agents (DAAs) has radically changed the natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic liver disease. Even patients with cirrhosis may display improvements in liver function or features of portal hypertension following viral eradication. The aim of this study was to assess whether a HCV cure would lead to improvements in cirrhotic patients using simple, readily available tools in clinical practice, together with liver stiffness (LS) measurement. This is a retrospective study of cirrhotic patients with cured HCV infection, with or without previous decompensation. Clinical and biochemical parameters as well as LS measurements were collected before antiviral treatment with DAAs and after 6 months following sustained virological response. Hepatic synthesis was assessed by serum albumin levels. Portal hypertension was indirectly assessed by platelet count. Liver function was determined by the CHILD score. A total of 373 cirrhotic patients with successful HCV eradication were retrospectively included. After 6 months of follow-up, a significantly higher proportion of patients showed improved liver function, shifting from the CHILD B/C to CHILD A group, (71.4%, p < 0.001). Similarly, LS improved from a median of 19.3 kPa (14.7–27) at the baseline vs. a median of 11.6 (7.7–16.8 kPa) at follow-up (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients who showed improved hepatic synthesis was 66.0%, which was statistically different when compared to that of patients who had a worsened condition (0.3%) (p < 0.001). Moreover, when classifying the cohort according to the RESIST-HCV score, we found that a significant proportion of patients shifted into the "low risk" group following DAA treatment (52% baseline vs. 45.6% at follow-up, p = 0.004). Even in the decompensated patients, LS improved from 1.6 to 2-fold from the baseline. Antiviral treatment is effective in improving indirect signs of hepatic synthesis and portal hypertension. Similarly, the LS values displayed significant improvements, even in decompensated patients.
- Subjects
HEPATITIS C virus; PORTAL hypertension; LIVER; PLATELET count; BIOMARKERS; SERUM albumin; PORTAL vein
- Publication
Biology (2079-7737), 2022, Vol 11, Issue 8, pN.PAG
- ISSN
2079-7737
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/biology11081160