Early fibrosis regression by shear wave elastography after successful direct-acting anti-HCV therapy

AbstractShear wave elastography (SWE) is a noninvasive ultrasound-based marker of hepatic fibrosis not requiring a special device. Successful direct-acting anti-HCV therapy was associated with hepatic fibrosis regression assessed by transient elastography (FibroScan). Data on the utility of SWE in these patients and how early fibrosis can regress after treatment are still lacking. To assess liver fibrosis by SWE before and after direct-acting antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), we enrolled 165 CHC genotype 4 Egyptian patients treated with different Sofosbuvir-based regimens. Patients ’ laboratory characteristics, fibrosis biomarkers, namely Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index and AST/platelet ratio index (APRI) and liver stiffness measurements (LSM) by SWE were evaluated at baseline, end of treatment (EOT at week 12), week 24 and week 36. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanin e aminotransferase (ALT) levels as well as FIB-4 and APRI indices decreased significantly at EOT, week 24 and week 36 in comparison to baseline (P value  <  0.001). Although platelet counts did not significantly differ between baseline and EOT, they increased significantly from EOT to week 24 and week 36 with aP value  <  0.001. The mean LSM showed improvement at EOT (7.01 ± 3.59 kpa), week 24 (6.18 ± 3.39 kpa) and week 36 (5.74 ± 3.21 kpa) in comparison to baseline (8.49 ± 0.83 kpa) (P value  <  0.001). There is early liver fibrosis regressio...
Source: Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Category: Research Source Type: research