Role of assessing liver fibrosis in management of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Clin Microbiol Infect
; 22(10): 839-845, 2016 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27677698
ABSTRACT
Fibrosis progression is common in hepatitis C. Both host and viral factors influence its natural history. Liver fibrosis is a key predictive factor for advanced disease including endpoints such as liver failure, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METAVIR fibrosis stages F3-F4 have been considered as the threshold for antiviral therapy. However, this aspect is controversial after the advent of new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) because they show an excellent efficacy and safety profile. Moreover, in the DAA era, fibrosis stage seems not to be a predictive factor of a sustained virological response (SVR). Viral eradication decreases liver damage by improving the inflammation, as well as by regressing fibrosis irrespective of the treatment regimen. Non-invasive methods are useful in the assessment of liver fibrosis, replacing liver biopsy in clinical practice; but their usefulness for monitoring fibrosis after SVR needs to be demonstrated. Fibrosis regression has been demonstrated after the eradication of hepatitis C virus infection and is associated with a lower risk of hepatic cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, patients showing advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis must be followed-up after SVR, as risks of portal hypertension and HCC remain.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Antivirales
/
Hepatitis C Crónica
/
Cirrosis Hepática
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Microbiol Infect
Asunto de la revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
MICROBIOLOGIA
Año:
2016
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
España