Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
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J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Feb 2018
Soluble CD163 and mannose receptor associate with chronic hepatitis B activity and fibrosis and decline with treatment.
Liver macrophages are activated in chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection and play a pivotal role in hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. However, their role during antiviral treatment is unclear. The soluble (s) macrophage activation markers, sCD163 and mannose receptor (sMR), are released during liver damage, and their serum levels reflect liver disease severity and portal hypertension. We aimed to investigate associations between sCD163 and sMR and histopathological activity and fibrosis and changes in sCD163, sMR, and hepatic CD163-expression following antiviral treatment in CHB patients. ⋯ The macrophage activation markers sCD163 and sMR were associated with activity and fibrosis in liver biopsies from CHB patients. Both serum markers decreased with antiviral treatment, along with decreased hepatic CD163 expression.
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J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. · Feb 2018
Reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma by achieving a subcirrhotic liver stiffness through antiviral agents in hepatitis B virus-related advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.
A subcirrhotic range of liver stiffness (sc-LS), assessed by transient elastography, is associated with better outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We investigated whether the achievement of sc-LS by antiviral therapy (AVT) reduced the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with CHB-related advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. ⋯ The achievement of sc-LS after AVT can reduce the risk of HCC development in patients with CHB, even when advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis is apparent on starting AVT.