The role of shear wave elastography in the dynamic monitoring of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C with sustained virological response after direct acting antiviral therapy

Abstract

Introduction. In the last years, the non-invasive methods of evaluating liver fibrosis were imposed in the current medical practice. The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of 2D Shear Wave elastography in the dynamic monitoring of liver fibrosis compared to a validated method – Fibromax. Materials and methods. 37 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and advanced fibrosis (F3/F4) who received treatment with Paritaprevir/Ritonavir + Ombitasvir + Dasabuvir were included. The evaluation was done at baseline, 12 weeks after the end of treatment and 48 weeks after therapy. Results. There was a significant and positive correlation of high degree, according to the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient, between 2D Shear Wave elastography and Fibromax, showing very similar results both at the beginning of therapy (p95%), there is also a significant improvement of fibrosis, which prevents progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Keywords

• elastography
• two-dimensional shear wave elastography
• fibromax
• chronic hepatitis c
• hepatic fibrosis