Successful treatment with interferon-based therapy can eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) and halt liver disease progression, but less is known about whether it improves existing fibrosis.

As reported in the February 2009 Journal of Viral Hepatitis, J. Vergniol and colleagues used noninvasive blood biomarkers (FibroTest) and transient elastometry (FibroScan) to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis among 416 French hepatitis C patients enrolled between May 2003 and March 2006, of whom 112 started antiviral treatment.

Liver fibrosis was staged using FibroTest and FibroScan at study entry, then every year in untreated individuals and at the end of treatment and six months later in treated patients. These noninvasive measures are not as accurate as liver biopsy, but patients may be more willing to undergo repeated procedures to assess changes over time.

The treated group had significantly higher FibroTest and FibroScan scores than untreated patients both at baseline and at the end of treatment. At the end of post-treatment follow-up, however, scores were similar, indicating improvement in the treated group. Interestingly, FibroTest and FibroScan scores fell in all treated patients, regardless of virological response. In conclusion, the researchers stated, "whatever the virological response, treatment for HCV infection is associated with an improvement of FibroScan and FibroTest values."

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/news/newsRev/2009/HJR-6.3.html#1

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