Sofosbuvir-based therapies associated with regression of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus infection: A prospective observational study.

Abstract: Oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment leads to >95% sustained virological response (SVR) and could be clinically useful in regression of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We evaluated if ledipasvir/sofosbuvir or sofosbuvir + ribavirin is associated with regression of fibrosis in HCV patients who achieved SVR.In this prospective cohort study performed at 3 sites in Japan, patients with genotype 1 and genotype 2 were given standard treatment of ledipasvir 90 mg/sofosbuvir 400 mg and sofosbuvir 400 mg + 200-1000 mg/day ribavirin, respectively, for 12 weeks. Liver fibrosis was assessed using Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) and other fibrosis markers (platelet count, Fib-4 index, liver stiffness measurement [LSM]) in patients who achieved SVR.A total of 98.1% of (n = 101/103) patients in genotype 1 cohort and 100% (n = 16/16) in the genotype 2 cohort achieved SVR12. Based on per-protocol analysis, M2BPGi levels showed a significant decrease (-2.2  cut-off index [COI], P < .0001) at week 48 after treatment initiation. Forty-three patients showed a significant decrease in Fib-4 index (-1.2, P < .0001), and 44 patients showed improvement in LSM (-5.9 kPa, P < .0001).Achievement of SVR after antiviral therapy was associated with fibrosis regression. M2BPGi correlated well with LSM at week 48 after treatment initiation, supporting the sustainable benefit of HCV therapy.
Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Akito Nozaki—Grant/Research Support: Gilead Sciences.
(Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)