Dynamic Changes in Liver Stiffness in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Undergoing Antiviral Therapy
Alin Lazar,
Ioan Sporea,
Alexandru Popa,
Raluca Lupusoru,
Diana Gherhardt,
Ruxandra Mare,
Alexandru Apostu,
Madalina Hnatiuc,
Roxana Șirli
Affiliations
Alin Lazar
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Ioan Sporea
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Alexandru Popa
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Raluca Lupusoru
Center for Modeling Biological Systems and Data Analysis, Department of Functional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Diana Gherhardt
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Ruxandra Mare
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Alexandru Apostu
Department of Cardiology, Division of Internal Outpatient Medicine, Prevention and Cardiovascular Recovery, Advanced Research Center of the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Madalina Hnatiuc
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Roxana Șirli
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
This is a retrospective single-center study that included 87 subjects. All subjects had chronic hepatitis B or HBV cirrhosis and underwent nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUC) treatment for more than one year. The study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes in liver stiffness (LS) measured by transient elastography (TE) during a median interval of 64 months. Patients were assessed prior to starting therapy and followed up annually. Liver stiffness measurements (LSM) were performed annually, and ten valid LSMs were obtained in each session. Reliable LSMs were defined as the median value of 10 measurements with Interquartile range/median (IQR/M) ≤ 30%. A significant decrease in liver stiffness values (p p = 0.007), whereas the decrease in non-cirrhotic patients was not significant, 7.31 ± 3.62 vs. 6.80 ± 2.41 (p = 0.27). Liver stiffness decrease was more significant in patients with initially higher transaminases. Undetectable viral load was achieved in 73.5% of patients in year one, 82.7% in year two, and 90.8% in year three of treatment. In conclusion, our study reveals a decrease in liver stiffness by TE in patients with chronic hepatitis B when undergoing anti-HBV therapy in the first two years. It can be used as a method for follow-up in patients undergoing NUC therapy.
