Liver stiffness decrease after effective antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Longitudinal study using FibroScan

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the changes of liver stiffness (LS) and its associated factors in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) after interferon (IFN)-based therapy. Methods: Patients with chronic HCV who had previously undergone at least 20 weeks of IFN-based therapy were enrolled. The patients' initial LS measurement was taken at the time of enrollment, and a second LS measurement was made after an interval of at least 38 weeks. LS measurement was carried out with FibroScan^®, and changes of LS and its associated factors were analyzed. Results: One hundred and forty-four patients, including 95 sustained virological response (SVR) patients and 49 non-sustained virological response (NSVR) patients, were enrolled. There was a significant decrease of LS among SVR patients (median, 0.6; P < 0.001). NSVR patients showed an increase of LS (median, 0.8; P = 0.557). For SVR patients, a high initial LS was the predictive factor of a rapid reduction of LS values. However, advanced fibrosis stage before therapy, higher body mass index (BMI) and longer time remission were predictive factors for slow reduction of LS values. Conclusions: LS decreases in sustained responders following IFN-based therapy in patients with chronic HCV. Advanced fibrosis, higher BMI, longer time for remission and lower initial LS value are predictive factors for a slow improvement of LS in sustained responders.