title: Liver fibrosis progression in hepatitis C virus infection after seroconversion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowing the rate of liver fibrosis progression in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected persons can help inform patients and providers (clinicians, medical institutions or organizations, and third-party payers) in making treatment decisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate and factors associated with liver fibrosis progression and hepatic decompensation in persons after acquiring HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis of persons in the Electronically Retrieved Cohort of HCV Infected Veterans (ERCHIVES), a national Veterans Affairs (VA) database, between 2002 and 2012. Among 610 514 persons in ERCHIVES (half were HCV positive), we identified those with an initial negative and subsequent positive test result for HCV antibody and positive HCV RNA test result (HCV+). Controls had 2 negative HCV antibody test results (HCV-) in a comparable time frame and were matched 1:1 on age (in 5-year blocks), race, and sex. We excluded persons with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, less than 24 months of follow-up, hepatocellular carcinoma, and cirrhosis at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Progression of liver fibrosis as estimated by the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index; development of cirrhosis, defined by a FIB-4 score greater than 3.5; and development of hepatic decompensation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evaluable data set consisted of 1840 persons who were HCV+ and 1840 HCV- controls. The HCV+ persons were younger and had a lower mean (SD) body mass index (27.39 [5.51] vs 29.49 [6.16]; P < .001), a higher prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse and dependence diagnoses, and higher serum aminotransferase levels, but had a lower prevalence of diabetes and hypertension. Fibrosis progression started early after infection among HCV+ persons and tapered off after 5 years. A total of 452 cirrhosis and 85 hepatic decompensation events were recorded. After 10 years of follow-up, HCV+ persons were more likely to have a diagnosis of cirrhosis compared with HCV- controls (18.4% vs 6.1%). Nine years after diagnosis of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation events were uncommon but had a higher rate in the HCV+ group (1.79% vs 0.33%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persons who seroconverted for HCV have a more rapid progression of liver fibrosis and accelerated time to development of cirrhosis after seroconversion compared with HCV- controls. Fibrosis progression occurs early after infection; however, hepatic decompensation is uncommon after diagnosis of cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Adeel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.affiliation: VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lo Re
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rimland
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leaf
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania2VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Freiberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Marina B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven8Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Amy C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Justice
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D048550:Hepatic Insufficiency / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors