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.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
60
University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital
Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
RECRUITINGElastography
Obtained liver stiffness measurements (kPa) at baseline of participants receiving antiviral treatment.
Time frame: Baseline
Patient record
weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2 at baseline of participants receiving antiviral treatment.
Time frame: Baseline
Biochemical analyses
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.
Time frame: Baseline
B-mode evaluation of the liver
Evaluation of Liver angle (acute/blunt), Steatosis (yes/no), Liver capsule (regular/irregular), Liver parenchyma (normal/coarse) at baseline of participants receiving antiviral treatment.
Time frame: Baseline
Elastography
Obtained liver stiffness measurements (kPa) after end treatment (EOT).
Time frame: 3 months
Elastography
Obtained liver stiffness measurements (kPa), 3 months after end of treatment (EOT).
Time frame: 6 months
Elastography
Obtained liver stiffness measurements (kPa), 1 year after EOT.
Time frame: 12 months
B-mode evaluation of the liver
Evaluation of Liver angle (acute/blunt), Steatosis (yes/no), Liver capsule (regular/irregular), Liver parenchyma (normal/coarse) at at end of treatment (EOT).
Time frame: 3 months
B-mode evaluation of the liver
Evaluation of Liver angle (acute/blunt), Steatosis (yes/no), Liver capsule (regular/irregular), Liver parenchyma (normal/coarse), 3 months after end treatment (EOT).
Time frame: 6 months
B-mode evaluation of the liver
Evaluation of Liver angle (acute/blunt), Steatosis (yes/no), Liver capsule (regular/irregular), Liver parenchyma (normal/coarse), 1 year after EOT.
Time frame: 12 months
Patient record
weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2 at end of treatment (EOT).
Time frame: 3 months
Patient record
weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2, 3 months after end treatment (EOT).
Time frame: 6 months
Patient record
weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m\^2, 1 year after EOT.
Time frame: 12 months
Biochemical analyses
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).
Time frame: 3 months
Biochemical analyses
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, 3 months after EOT.
Time frame: 6 months
Biochemical analyses
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, 1 year after EOT.
Time frame: 12 months
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