Early decrease of liver stiffness after initiation of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C indicates that lower cut-off values for liver stiffness are appropriat…

Background: Liver elastography is widely used to assess liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C and has also been recommended to monitor liver fibrosis after successful antiviral therapy. We studied early changes of liver stiffness after initiation of antiviral treatment. Patients and Methods: The study population comprised 53 patients with chronic hepatitis C (mean age: 49.4 ± 10.7; METAVIR fibrosis stage F2, n = 23; F3, n = 12; F4, n = 18; genotype (GT), n = 32; GT3, n = 17; GT4, n = 4; mean BMI: 25.1 ± 3.8). All patients were treated with interferon-free regimens. Prior to therapy and 1 – 6 weeks…