Beneficial effect of successful HCV treatment in patients with inherited bleeding disorders, assessed by liver stiffness measurements

D. E. Fransen Van De Putte*, K. Fischer, Robert J. de Knegt, D. Posthouwer, Karel J. van Erpecum, Douwe H. Biesma, Evelien P. Mauser-Bunschoten

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Hepatitis C infection is a major comorbidity in patients with inherited bleeding disorders. Successful antiviral treatment leads to a reduction in liver fibrosis, as shown by liver biopsies. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is a non-invasive method of assessing liver fibrosis. The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the long-term effect of successful antiviral treatment, using LSM, in HCV-infected patients with inherited bleeding disorders. The LSM were performed in 2005 (LSM 1) and 2009 (LSM 2) in 39 patients who were successfully treated for HCV. The change in liver fibrosis between LSM 1 and 2 was assessed. The median duration of HCV infection was 28.8 years. A total of 22 patients (56%) underwent successful antiviral treatment before LSM 1 (group 1), and 17 patients between LSM 1 and LSM 2 (group 2). The median time since antiviral treatment was 8.8 years in group 1 and 2.5 years in group 2. In group 1, the median results of LSM 1 and 2 were similar (6.0 vs. 5.6 kPa, P-value 0.36), so overall, patients remained stable. In three patients in this group, all treated more than 15 years ago, an increase of liver stiffness was shown. Group 2 showed a significant improvement in median LSM results (10.3 vs. 6.1 kPa, P-value
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e266-e272
JournalHaemophilia
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2012

Keywords

  • fibroscan
  • haemophilia
  • hepatitis C
  • liver stiffness measurement
  • successful antiviral treatment
  • SVR

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