Liver Remodeling on CT Examination in Patients with HCV Compensated Cirrhosis Who Achieved Sustained Virological Response after Direct-Acting Antivirals Treatment

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in hepatic morphology evaluated by computed tomography (CT) examination in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related compensated cirrhosis who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment. Methods: CT examination was performed in 56 patients with HCV-related compensated cirrhosis before and within 6–18 months after the treatment with Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/ritonavir + Dasabuvir. The liver CT changes were assessed by measuring liver volume, caudate-right lobe ratio (C/RL), hepatic vessels diameters, periportal widening space, and right posterior notch. Portal trunk, splenic and superior mesenteric vein diameters, as well as spleen volume were assessed as part of portal hypertension. Results: Right hepatic vein diameter was significantly wider after treatment (median: 8.12 mm; IQR: 4.20) than before treatment (median: 6.36 mm; IQR: 3.94) z = −3.894; p 3; IQR: 879.23) than after treatment (median: 1716.44 mm3; IQR: 840.50), z = −1.970; p = 0.049. Splenic volume was considerably higher before treatment (median: 564.79 mm3; IQR: 342.54) than after (median: 474.45 mm3; IQR: 330.00), z = −2.500; p = 0.012. The other parameters, such as C/RL, periportal space widening, and right hepatic notch showed no significant changes. Conclusions: SVR in patients with HCV-related compensated cirrhosis treated with DAAs is associated with some improvements of hepatic morphology detectable by CT, the most constant being the increase of right hepatic vein diameter.

Keywords

• liver cirrhosis
• computed tomography
• liver fibrosis
• hepatitis C virus