Reduction in Hepatic Inflammation Is Associated With Less Fibrosis Progression and Fewer Clinical Outcomes in Advanced Hepatitis C
Morishima, Chihiro ; Shiffman, Mitchell L. ; Dienstag, Jules L. ; Lindsay, Karen L. ; Szabo, Gyongyi ; Everson, Gregory T. ; Lok, Anna S. F. ; Di Bisceglie, Adrian M. ; Ghany, Marc G. ; Naishadham, Deepa ... show 3 more
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES:During the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment against Cirrhosis Trial, 3.5 years of maintenance peginterferon-alfa-2a therapy did not affect liver fibrosis progression or clinical outcomes among 1,050 previous interferon nonresponders with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. We investigated whether reduced hepatic inflammation was associated with clinical benefit in 834 patients with a baseline and follow-up biopsy 1.5 years after randomization to peginterferon or observation.
METHODS:Relationships between change in hepatic inflammation (Ishak hepatic activity index, (HAI)) and serum alanine aminotransferase level, fibrosis progression and clinical outcomes after randomization, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA decline before and after randomization were evaluated. Histological change was defined as a >/=2-point difference in HAI or Ishak fibrosis score between biopsies.RESULTS:Among 657 patients who received full-dose peginterferon/ribavirin "lead-in" therapy before randomization, year-1.5 HAI improvement was associated with lead-in HCV RNA suppression in both the randomized treated (P
CONCLUSIONS:Reduced hepatic inflammation (measured 1.5 and 3.5 years after randomization) was associated with profound virological suppression during lead-in treatment with full-dose peginterferon/ribavirin and with decreased fibrosis progression and clinical outcomes, independent of randomized treatment.Am J Gastroenterol advance online publication, 12 June 2012; doi:10.1038/ajg.2012.137.
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Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Jun 12. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2012.137. Link to article on publisher's site