Effect of antiviral treatment on serum markers of liver fibrosis in HIV-hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients: the Fibrovic 2 Study - ANRS HC02.
Antiviral therapy
Halfon P, Carrat F, Bedossa P, Lambert J, Penaranda G, Perronne C, Pol S, Cacoub P
2009 Antivir. Ther. (Lond.) Volume 14 Issue 2
BACKGROUND
Non-invasive liver fibrosis scores have been proposed as alternatives to liver biopsy (LB) in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Here, we aimed to assess the effect of antiviral treatment on non-invasive serological markers of liver fibrosis in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients.
METHODS
We included 114 HIV-HCV-coinfected patients with LBs performed before and 6 months after the end of treatment (week 72; W72). Fibrotest, the Forn's index, age-platelet ratio index, SHASTA, FIB-4, Hepa-score and Fibrometer scores were assessed. There were 29 (25%) patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR).
RESULTS
At baseline (BL), all non-invasive fibrosis scores except the Forn's index did not show significantly lower values in SVR patients. At W72, all non-invasive scores, except Hepascore, showed a significant decrease in SVR patients (P<0.01). There was a significant difference in fibrosis stages on LBs between BL and W72 in SVR and non-SVR patients.
CONCLUSIONS
In HIV-HCV-coinfected patients, HCV clearance is associated with a significant reduction in non-invasive fibrosis serological markers, which most likely reflect the histological improvement associated with SVR. If confirmed, such results will reinforce the reliability of these markers in the follow-up after HCV treatment.
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