title: Progression of initially mild hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.
abstract: A significant number of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection have minimal fibrosis at presentation. Although the short-term outlook for such patients is good, there are limited data available on long-term progression. We assessed the risk of fibrosis progression in 282 patients with chronic hepatitis C with Ishak stage 0 or 1 fibrosis on initial liver biopsy. Progression of fibrosis stage occurred in 118 patients (42%) over a median interval of 52.5 months. Thirteen (5%) progressed to severe (Ishak stage 4 or more) fibrosis. Progression was significantly associated with both age at initial biopsy [odds ratio (OR) for progression of 1.31 per 10 year increase in age] and median alanine transaminase (ALT) levels during follow-up (OR of 1.06 per 10 IU/L increase). There was no significant association with gender, histological inflammatory grade, hepatic steatosis or body mass index. We conclude that hepatitis C with initially mild fibrosis does progress in a substantial proportion of patients and should not be viewed as a benign disease. Early antiviral therapy should be considered in older patients and those with high ALT levels.
authors.affiliation: Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, UK. mike.williams@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lang-Lenton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase