• Toshifumi Tada, Takashi Kumada, Hidenori Toyoda, Kazuyuki Mizuno, Yasuhiro Sone, Saki Kataoka, and Shinichi Hashinokuchi.
• Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Gifu, Japan.
• J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2017 Dec 1; 32 (12): 1982-1988.

Background And AimThere is insufficient research on whether direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy can improve liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). We evaluated sequential changes in liver stiffness using shear wave elastography in patients with HCV who received DAA therapy.MethodsA total of 210 patients with HCV who received daclatasvir and asunaprevir therapy and achieved sustained virological response (SVR) were analyzed. Liver stiffness, as evaluated by shear wave elastography, and laboratory data were assessed before treatment (baseline), at end of treatment (EOT), and at 24 weeks after EOT (SVR24).ResultsAlanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) decreased over time, and there were significant differences between baseline and EOT and between EOT and SVR24. Although platelet counts did not significantly differ between baseline and EOT, they increased significantly from EOT to SVR24. The median (interquartile range) liver stiffness values at baseline, EOT, and SVR24 were 10.2 (7.7-14.7), 8.8 (7.1-12.1), and 7.6 (6.3-10.3) kPa, respectively (P < 0.001, baseline vs EOT; P < 0.001, EOT vs SVR24). Additionally, in patients with ALT ≤ 30 (indicating low necroinflammatory activity in the liver) and Fibrosis-4 index > 2.0 (n = 75), the liver stiffness values at baseline, EOT, and SVR24 were 9.6 (7.7-15.2), 9.2 (7.3-12.1), and 7.7 (6.3-10.1) kPa, respectively (P < 0.001, baseline vs EOT; P < 0.001, EOT vs SVR24).ConclusionThese results suggest that early improvement of liver stiffness starts during the administration of DAAs in patients who achieve SVR, and this effect is particularly pronounced in patients with progressive liver fibrosis.© 2017 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

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