Liver Stiffness Predicts Relapse after Direct Acting Antiviral Therapy Against Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract
Background: Assessment of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis has always been considered of utmost relevance for patient care in clinical hepatology. Over the last years, multiple non-invasive methods were used for diagnosis of hepaic fibrosis, including transient Elastography in addition to clinical and biochemical parameters or combinations of both methods. Serum markers and elastography are considered useful tech-niques for diagnosing severe liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and for excluding significant fibrosis in hepatitis C virus infected patients. Also, liver stiffness may help to foretell treatment response to antiviral therapy.
Aim of Study: This study aimed to evaluate changes of Transient elastography values as well as serum fibronectin and AST to platelet ratio index in patients (APRI) treated with sofosbuvir-based treatment regimen.
Methods: This is a follow-up study including 100 chronic HCV Egyptian patients treated with Sofosbuvir-based treatment regimen. Transient elastography values were recorded as well as serum fibronectin and APRI were calculated at baseline and SVR12.
Results: There was a significant improvement of platelets counts, ALT and AST levels, which in turn cause significant improvement in APRI scores at SVR12. Liver stiffness meas-urements were significantly lower at SVR12 (15.40±8.96 vs. 8.82±4.74 kPa, p=0.000). There was significant decline in serum fibronectin from baseline to SVR 12 (524.14±237.61 vs. 287.48±137.67, p=0.000).