The purpose of the study is to investigate how the liver is affected with regard to inflammation and fibrosis during Sofosbuvir based treatment regimes of chronic hepatitis C. In order to examine how the liver heals, we want to use blood samples to check for the occurrence of special liver inflammation cells (CD163 and CD206). To assess to which extent fibrosis disappear during treatment, we want to examine the liver with FibroScan (a type of ultrasound examination) and also preferably with extraction of a small tissue sample. We want to examine how the liver function as inflammation and scar tissue decrease, especially concerning the liver's ability to produce proteins. Furthermore, we want to examine with a gastroscopy, if the circulation of blood in the liver is improved after successful treatment with the expected result that potential varicose veins in the esophagus vanish.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
71
A test to investigate the liver's ability to metabolize galactose to glucose by injecting galactose followed by measurements of blood glucose and the quantification of galactose in the urine.
Aarhus University Hospital
Aarhus C, Denmark
Changes in the macrophage activation markers sCD163 and sCD206
Time frame: 1 year
Changes in liver fibrosis with fibroscan
Liver fibrosis will be determined using fibroscan, and reported as changes in the amount of fibrosis in the liver
Time frame: 1 year
Changes in histological liver fibrosis
Liver fibrosis will be also be determined on liver biopsies. Determining changes in fibrosis from baseline to after treatment.
Time frame: 1 year
Changes in clinical status
Defined by the number of patients with the occurrence of cirrhosis complications, eg. ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding.
Time frame: 1 year
Changes in hepatic venous pressure
Hepatic venous pressure will be assessed with liver vein catheterization before and after treatment and the results reported as changes between baseline and after treatment.
Time frame: 1 year
Changes in metabolic liver function determined by the galactose elimination capacity (GEC) test
GEC will be applied before and after treatment.
Time frame: 1 year
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