Changes in liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis C with and without HIV co-infection treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the changes in liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in patients infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) under pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-three HCV-infected patients, of whom 97 (68%) were also carrying HIV, who started treatment with Peg-IFN/ribavirin were included in this prospective cohort study. The outcome variable of the study was the change in LSM between baseline and the scheduled date for evaluating sustained virological response (SVR).


RESULTS
The median (Q1-Q3) LSM values at baseline and at the SVR assessment date were 8.1 (6.2-11.6) kPa and 6.8 (5.2-9.8) kPa (P<0.001), respectively. The median (Q1-Q3) decrease between both timepoints was -1 (-2.75, 0.3) kPa. The baseline LSM decreased ≥20% in 37 (46%) patients with SVR and in 19 (30%) without SVR (P=0.05). In the linear regression analysis, baseline LSM {beta [standard error (SE)] -0.712 (0.044), P=0.004}, alcohol intake ≥50 g/day [beta (SE) 0.202 (0.030), P=0.014] and achievement of SVR [beta (SE) -0.238 (0.026), P=0.029] were independently associated with changes in LSM.


CONCLUSIONS
LSM decreases significantly among patients with chronic HCV infection who achieve SVR with Peg-IFN/ribavirin. These patients show a higher frequency of LSM reduction ≥20% at the date of SVR evaluation.
Macías
Juan
J
Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain.
del Valle
José
J
Rivero
Antonio
A
Mira
José A
JA
Camacho
Angela
A
Merchante
Nicolás
N
Pérez-Camacho
Inés
I
Neukam
Karin
K
Rivero-Juárez
Antonio
A
Mata
Rosario
R
Torre-Cisneros
Julián
J
Pineda
Juan A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a