Antiviral therapy decreases hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis.
BACKGROUND
Antiviral therapy (AVT) may improve liver histology in patients with advanced viral hepatitis but its effect on portal pressure remains unknown.


OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to evaluate the influence of antiviral therapy (AVT) on hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in hepatitis C virus infected patients with portal hypertension.


METHODS
Twenty compensated patients with chronic hepatitis C, fibrosis stage 3 or 4 and HVPG > 5 mmHg received PEG-IFN alpha2b plus ribavirin. Every patient underwent liver biopsy and portal pressure measurements before and immediately after AT. Biopsies were evaluated according to METAVIR score.


RESULTS
HVPG significantly dropped in all but one treated patient, with a mean (SD) reduction of 28.2 (12)%[13.8 (5.6) Vs. 10.2 (3.8) mmHg, p = 0.005]. The percentage of HVPG decrease was significantly greater in patients who achieved a virological end of treatment response [26.2 (12.5)% Vs. 12.7 (8.5)%, p = 0.05] and in those with a decrease of at least 2 points in the grade of inflammation [35.7 (4.5)% Vs. 22.1 (9.5)%, p = 0.015]. Nine out of 11 patients with baseline HVPG > or = 12 mmHg showed a decrease greater than 20% (3/11) or under the 12 mmHg threshold (6/11).


CONCLUSIONS
AVT reduces HVPG in compensated patients with advanced hepatitis C (fibrosis stage 3 or 4) and portal hypertension.
Rincon
Diego
D
Liver and Transplant Unit, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
Ripoll
Cristina
C
Lo Iacono
Oreste
O
Salcedo
Magdalena
M
Catalina
Maria V
MV
Alvarez
Emilio
E
Nuñez
Oscar
O
Matilla
Ana M
AM
Clemente
Gerardo
G
Bañares
Rafael
R
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000503:physiopathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017082:Portal Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b