Long-term health outcome among HCVpatients with advanced liver fibrosis treated through HCV elimination program in Georgia

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver disease and death for the 71 million people infected worldwide. WHO estimates that in 2016, approximately 399,000 people died of hepatitis C, mainly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). In 2015, seroprevalence research showed that the prevalence in the country is high at 7.7%, while 5.4% of the population is infected with the active form of hepatitis C. Problems with hepatitis C are also due to the fact that no prophylactic measures have been developed to date, such as vaccinations or specific immunoglobulins that have protected people from hepatitis C. The study of the effectiveness of the latest direct antiviral drugs (DAA) allows many infected people to be cured, which in turn will reduce the transmission and spread of the hepatitis C virus. The aim of the study was to evaluate the modification of liver elasticity, measured by liver elastography or FIB4 scale, clinical and laboratory parameters (ALT, AST, PLTS, presence of ascites and splenomegaly) as indicators of the severity of liver disease and portal hypertension. Achieving SVR after direct antiviral treatment in HCV patients with advanced liver fibrosis results in a significant improvement in liver fibrosis levels 2 years after the end of the treatment course. Hepatic stiffness modification was assessed as part of the study; Patients who have achieved SVR are at a lower risk of developing decompensated liver, HCC, and other liver-related diseases; Along with the improvement in liver function, the study revealed normalization of liver function tests