Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Conditions
Keywords
Ultrasound, Shear wave elastography, SWE, Hepatitis C, HCV
Brief summary
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.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Bergen
Haukeland University Hospital
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
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).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B-mode evaluation of the liver | Baseline | Evaluation of Liver angle (acute/blunt), Steatosis (yes/no), Liver capsule (regular/irregular), Liver parenchyma (normal/coarse) at baseline of participants receiving antiviral treatment. |
| Elastography | Baseline | Obtained liver stiffness measurements (kPa) at baseline of participants receiving antiviral treatment. |
| Patient record | Baseline | weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2 at baseline of participants receiving antiviral treatment. |
| Biochemical analyses | Baseline | Transaminases; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Marker panels of liver fibrosis including AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4)will be calculated, at baseline of participants receiving antiviral treatment. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Elastography | 3 months | Obtained liver stiffness measurements (kPa) after end treatment (EOT). |
| B-mode evaluation of the liver | 3 months | Evaluation of Liver angle (acute/blunt), Steatosis (yes/no), Liver capsule (regular/irregular), Liver parenchyma (normal/coarse) at at end of treatment (EOT). |
| Patient record | 3 months | weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2 at end of treatment (EOT). |
| Biochemical analyses | 3 months | Transaminases; aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Marker panels of liver fibrosis including APRI and FIB-4 index will be calculated, at end of treatment (EOT). |
Countries
Norway
Contacts
Primary ContactAnesa Mulabecirovic, MD
Backup ContactRoald Havre
Outcome results
None listed