Predicting Liver-Related Events Using Transient Elastography in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Sustained Virological Response.
- Author:
Hye Won LEE
1
;
Young Eun CHON
;
Seung Up KIM
;
Beom Kyung KIM
;
Jun Yong PARK
;
Do Young KIM
;
Sang Hoon AHN
;
Kyu Sik JUNG
;
Young Nyun PARK
;
Kwang Hyub HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ksukorea@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hepatitis C, chronic;
Carcinoma, hepatocellular;
Liver stiffness;
Sustained virological response;
Transient elastography
- MeSH:
Ascites;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular;
Elasticity Imaging Techniques*;
Fibrosis;
Follow-Up Studies;
Hepatitis C, Chronic*;
Hepatitis, Chronic*;
Humans;
Interferons;
Liver;
Male;
Mortality;
Ribavirin
- From:Gut and Liver
2016;10(3):429-436
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Few studies have investigated prognostic factors for the development of liver-related events (LREs) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who achieve sustained virological response (SVR). METHODS: We analyzed 190 patients with CHC who achieved SVR after treatment with pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) plus ribavirin. LREs were defined as any complications related to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or liver-related mortality. RESULTS: The mean age was 54.1 years, and 84 of the patients (44.2%) were male. The mean liver stiffness (LS) value at SVR was 7.1±5.4 kPa. During the follow-up period (median, 43.0 months), LREs occurred in 10 patients (5.3%; HCC in eight patients, ascites in one patient, and liver-related mortality in one patient). By multivariate Cox regression analysis, age, α-fetoprotein level, and LS value were independent predictors for LRE development (all p<0.05). Patients with LS values ≥7.0 kPa had a greater risk (hazard ratio, 9.472; 95% confidence interval, 1.018 to 88.126; p=0.048) for LRE development compared to those with LS values <7.0 kPa. CONCLUSIONS: The LS value at SVR is useful for predicting LRE development in CHC patients who achieve SVR after treatment with peg-IFN plus ribavirin. Thus, LRE surveillance strategies might be optimized according to the LS values at SVR, even with complete viral eradication.
