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DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1584071
Long-term impact of achieving sustained virologic response(SVR)by IFN-free DAA treatment in patients with advanced liver disease.
Background and aims: IFN-free antiviral treatment with DAAs improves liver function in many patients with cirrhosis already at the end of therapy, however, results of long-term follow-up are not yet known. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients' virological and clinical outcomes at follow-up week 48 after interferon-free DAA therapy.
Methods: 159patients with cirrhosis (n = 135) or advanced fibrosis (F3, n = 24) with SVR after IFN-free DAA therapy and at least48 weeks of treatment-free follow up were evaluated (m/f = 99/60; mean age 56.8 ± 10.5yrs; genotype [GT-1: 128, GT-2: 2, GT-3: 18; GT-4: 11], cirrhosis CPS-A: 101, CPS-B: 26, CPS-C: 8, median baseline liver stiffness in patients with cirrhosis: 21.3kPa, in patients with F3: 10.3kPa).
Results:SVR was durable in all patients during long term follow up. The overall condition as well as albumin (mean 38.7 vs. 42.0 g/L, p < 0.001), platelets (mean 126 vs. 141G/l, p < 0.001), and AFP (median 8.2 vs. 4.0 IU/ml, p < 0.001) improved in most patients from baseline to FUP48. Changes in Child Pugh Score (CPS) are shown in the table below. Six patients died after SVR 4 (3 related to liver disease). One patient was transplanted after SVR4, and four were delisted due to clinical improvement. During follow-up HCC was diagnosed in 14 patients (8.6%) (F4: 12, F3: 2, m/f = 11/3; mean age 63.5 ± 8.2yrs; GT-1: 11; GT-3: 2, GT-4: 1; CPS at baseline: A: 6, B: 5, C: 1). Priorto treatmentnone of themhad evidence of HCC by imaging methods; AFP had been in the normal range in six patients.
Changes in CPS:
SVR 48 weeks |
|||
Pretreatment |
CPS A |
CPS B |
CPS C |
CPS A |
75 |
3 |
1 |
CPS B |
16 |
8 |
2 |
CPS C |
2* |
3 |
3 |
*one patient improved after liver transplantation |
Conclusion: Liver function improved in patients with cirrhosis and advanced liver fibrosis after SVR; however, the risk of HCC remains high. Thus, a vigorous surveillanceof patients with cirrhosisis mandatoryafter achieving SVR.