Real-world single-center experience with direct-acting antivirals for improvement of the liver fibrosis after chronic hepatitis C treatment. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Sun Hee; Shin, Hyun Phil; Lee, Joung Il
• Is Part Of: Antiviral chemistry & chemotherapy. Volume 28(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Direct-acting antivirals -- chronic hepatitis C -- liver fibrosis; Antiviral agents -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.7924
• DOI: 10.1177/2040206620974835
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-3202

Abstract

Background: Recently, new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are known to eradicate chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection and prevent the progression of liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis may predispose to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. We investigated the effect of DAAs on liver fibrosis using non-invasive methods, and evaluated the correlations of these methods. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 68 patients with CHC who were treated with DAAs and reached sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment from January 2016 to October 2018. The degree of liver fibrosis was assessed using serum biomarkers, such as AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index. Liver stiffness was assessed using two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2 D-SWE). The pre- and post-treatment serum biomarker levels and SWE findings were evaluated and compared. Results: A total of 68 patients with CHC were enrolled. The median age was 58 years (52.3–73 years) and 37 patients (54.4%) were female. After treatment, the median APRI was decreased from 0.701 to 0.328 (P < 0.0001), and the median FIB-4 was decreased from 2.355 to 1.860 (P < 0.0001). The median kPa in 2 D-SWE significantly reduced from 6.85 to 5.66 (P = 0.013). APRI and FIB-4 were significantly correlated pre- and post-treatment; however, the correlation between the serum biomarkers and 2 D-SWE was partially significant. Conclusion: The serum fibrosis biomarkers and liver stiffness on 2 D-SWE were shown to be improved after the treatment with DAAs. Further research including larger number of patients is needed to compare the efficacy of each evaluating method.