Changes of non‐invasive markers and FibroScan values during HCV treatment

Abstract

The recent advent of non-invasive methods for assessment of fibrosis allows serial assessments in all patients with hepatitis C. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis, as measured with non-invasive methods, in a large cohort of HCV-infected patients with and without treatment. From May 2003 through March 2006, all previously untreated HCV-infected patients were enrolled in this study. Liver fibrosis was staged with FibroScan and Fibrotest at inclusion, then every year in untreated patients, and at the end of treatment and 6 months later in treated patients. The study population consisted of 416 patients, of whom 112 started treatment after enrolment. In the treatment group, FibroScan and Fibrotest values were significantly higher before and after treatment than in untreated patients at baseline and after 1 year. However, there was no significant difference between treated and untreated patients at the end of follow-up. FibroScan and Fibrotest values fell in all treated patients, whatever their virological response. In multivariate analysis, treatment was the only factor independently associated with a fall in the FibroScan value. In conclusion, whatever the virological response, treatment for HCV infection is associated with an improvement of FibroScan and Fibrotest values. Further studies are needed to compare these non-invasive methods with liver biopsy. These non-invasive methods, and especially FibroScan, should be useful for assessing treatment efficacy in clinical trials of new drugs.

Real-Life Use of 3 Direct-Acting Antiviral Regimen in a Large Cohort of Patients with Genotype-1b HCV Compensated Cirrhosis

“…Previously it has been shown that noninvasive tests should be repeated to monitor patients and predict their outcome [21]. It was evidenced before the DAA era, that treatment was the only factor independently associated with a fall in the TE values [22]. There are more recent studies [23,24] showing significant reduction of the liver stiffness values and also the other validated fibrosis scores (APRI, FIB4) at SVR as well as portal hypertension, similar to our study.…”

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

“…Finally, TE could be useful for evaluating fibrosis regression in patients with chronic hepatitis C achieving sustained viral eradication [92][93][94] or for monitoring fibrosis progression in untreated patients.…”

British HIV Association guidelines for the management of coinfection with HIV‐1 and hepatitis B or C virus 2010

“…However, because of sampling error, liver biopsy can overestimate or underestimate the degree of liver fibrosis. Increasingly, some physicians are commencing therapy in individuals without performing liver biopsy [29]. Liver biopsy is an important diagnostic tool in the work-up of patients with liver disease.…”