scholarly journals Assessment of Liver Stiffness Regression and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients after Treatment with Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 210
Author(s):  
Martynas Ridziauskas ◽  
Birutė Zablockienė ◽  
Ligita Jančorienė ◽  
Artūras Samuilis ◽  
Rolandas Zablockis ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection affects about 71 million people worldwide. It is one of the most common chronic liver conditions associated with an increased risk of developing liver cirrhosis and cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis and the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral drug therapy, and to assess factors, linked with these outcomes. Materials and Methods: 70 chronic hepatitis C patients were evaluated for factors linked to increased risk of de novo liver cancer and ≥ 20% decrease of ultrasound transient elastography values 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results: The primary outcome was an improvement of liver stiffness at the end of treatment (p = 0.004), except for patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (p = 0.49). Logistic regression analysis revealed factors associated with ≥ 20% decrease of liver stiffness values: lower degree of steatosis in liver tissue biopsy (p = 0.053); no history of interferon-based therapy (p = 0.045); elevated liver enzymes (p = 0.023–0.036); higher baseline liver stiffness value (p = 0.045) and absence of splenomegaly (p = 0.035). Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in 4 (5.7%) patients, all with high alpha-fetoprotein values (p = 0.0043) and hypoechoic liver mass (p = 0.0001), three of these patients had diabetes mellitus type 2. Conclusions: Liver stiffness decrease was significant as early as 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Patients with diabetes and advanced liver disease are at higher risk of developing non-regressive fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma even after successful treatment.

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan G. Stine ◽  
Javelle A. Wynter ◽  
Blake Niccum ◽  
Virginia Kelly ◽  
Stephen H. Caldwell ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1489-1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clovis Lusivika‐Nzinga ◽  
Hélène Fontaine ◽  
Céline Dorival ◽  
Mélanie Simony ◽  
Stanislas Pol ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 675-686
Author(s):  
Longteng Ma ◽  
Jiluo Liu ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Ping Li ◽  
...  

Aim: It was controversial whether direct-acting antiviral (DAA) is better than interferon-based therapy (IBT) in preventing HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, we accomplished this large, stepwise meta-analysis. Materials & methods: The PubMed, Cochrane and ScienceDirect were searched for studies published during January 2009–March 2019. Antiviral type, number of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, number of HCC cases from CHC patients, sustained virological response (SVR) status and important covariate data were extracted from each study. Results & conclusion: It is demonstrated that antiviral treatment reduces the occurrence of HCC in patients with CHC; achieving SVR to antiviral treatment reduces HCC; DAA treatment is not better than IBT in the prophylaxis of HCC; DAA treatment and cirrhosis are independently associated with a higher incidence of HCC than IBT in middle-aged CHC patients who achieve SVR.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 336-346
Author(s):  
Shimaa Kamel ◽  
Hagar Elessawy ◽  
Ossama Ashraf ◽  
Ahmed Elbaz ◽  
Hany Dabbous ◽  
...  

Background: Hepatitis C virus treatment has dramatically improved by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of DAA in elderly Egyptian chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Methods: The study was carried out on 327 CHC elderly patients >60 years; patients were divided into 3 age subgroups (<65, 65–75 and >75 years) on DAA therapy for 12 weeks. Ninety-one patients (27.8%) were treated with dual therapy, 234 patients (71.6%) with triple therapy and 2 patients (0.6%) with quadrable therapy. Results: All patients achieved end-of-treatment virological response (100%). ALT levels normalized during therapy. The follow-up rate of sustained virological response at 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12) was 100%. One hundred and two patients had missed SVR12 data due to being lost tofollow-up. Two hundred twenty-two adverse events were reported (67.8%), including anemia in 30 patients (9.1%), leucopenia in 129 patients (39.4%) and thrombocytopenia in 63 patients (19.2%). No serious side effects led to discontinuation of therapy. No hepatic decompensation was observed, and no patients died. Conclusion: Age does not influence the success of DAA treatment and all DAA regimens are well tolerated, safe and highly efficacious, even in those aged 75 years or older.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-96
Author(s):  
N. A. Malinina ◽  
N. V. Mazurchik ◽  
O. I. Tarasova ◽  
P. P. Ogurtsov

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of death from cancer and is the final stage of chronic liver disease, usually occurring in patients with cirrhosis (CP). Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to progressive liver inflammation and cirrhosis because this virus specifically affects liver tissue. Previously used interferon therapy had a relatively low efficiency and very high risks of side effects. During the period of administration of interferon (IFN) schemes it was proved that elimination of the virus significantly reduced risk of liver cancer development. Discovery of direct-acting antiviral (DAA ) drugs have revolutionized HCV therapy with virus elimination rate of more than 95 % and an excellent safety profile. However, the risk of transformation of liver cirrhosis into hepatocellular carcinoma is still high even after complete eradication of the virus. Numerous studies have shown conflicting results on the possible relationship between the use of new antiviral drugs and the increase in the frequency of newly diagnosed or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, the long-term prognosis in terms of risk for HCC development among patients with sustained virological response (SVR) remains unclear.The purpose of the study was to analyze the literature on the effect of antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C with interferon-containing regimens and drugs of direct antiviral action on the risk of developing or recurring hepatocellular carcinoma.Material and Methods. We analyzed publications available from PubMed, S copus, E-library, Web of S cience using the key words “hepatocellular carcinoma”, “chronic hepatitis C”, “direct-acting antiviral drugs”, “liver cirrhosis”, “interferons”, and “sustained virological response”. Of the 99 studies found, 21 were used to write a systematic review.Results. Eradication of the virus reduces the risks of HCC. Despite reports on high risk of occurrence or recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis after treatment with DAA s compared with interferon-containing regimens, there is not enough data confirming the direct link between the use of DAA s and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. No statistically significant difference in the frequency of HCC between patients treated with interferon or DAA s was detected.Conclusion. Eradication of the virus is the most significant factor in the prevention of HCC; therefore, treatment of CHC should not be delayed due to the risk of HCC. Patients with liver cirrhosis require a long period of follow-up, even after successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C with DAA drugs. Stratification of HCC risk requires further research.


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