Liver Elastography in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Hepatitis C

Liver Elastography in Patients Undergoing Treatment for Hepatitis C - a Longitudinal Study

According to the guidelines for treating hepatitis C livers stiffness (LS) measurement is equivalent to liver biopsy to prove grade-2 fibrosis or more by Metavir-score. Also flares of inflammation in other viral hepatitis (B) have been reported to increase the elastography measurements. There are very few reports so far on longitudinal data in a treatment cohort. In this study investigators will follow patients who undergo active treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Investigators will collect longitudinal data of liver elastography and compare this to the current status of liver inflammation by blood samples. This may be important in order to know if transcutaneous US with elastography can be used as a tool to monitor active inflammation in liver disease and to quantify how much the inflammatory component contribute to LS and finally if it is possible to reverse not only inflammation but also liver fibrosis by treating viral hepatitis. Our aim is to assess shear wave elastography (SWE) and investigate if the method can be used, not only to define the indication for treatment through LS measurements, but also if LS due to inflammation and fibrosis may be reversible in treated patients. To investigate what role frequency of measurement obtains in follow up of patients with HCV play.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with HCV
• HCV RNA positive
• Approved for HCV treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Excessive alcohol use
• Pregnancy
• information of other cause of chronic liver disease (autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency).