TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of direct-acting antiviral agents on liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
AU - HCV Research UK
AU - Johnson, Philip J
AU - Berhane, Sarah
AU - Walker, Alex J
AU - Gordon, Fiona H
AU - Ryder, Steven D
AU - McPherson, Stuart
AU - Sreedharan, Aravamuthan
AU - Ustianowski, Andrew A
AU - Agarwal, Kosh
AU - Mutimer, David
AU - Kumada, Takeshi
AU - Toyoda, Hidenori
AU - Irving, William L
PY - 2021/1
Y1 - 2021/1
N2 - Whilst the benefit of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in achieving sustained virological response (SVR) is now well-accepted, their impact on liver function, particularly in relation to achievement of SVR, has not been well documented. We studied 2394 patients with chronic HCV infection, 1276 receiving DAAs and 1118 interferon-based therapy. Liver function was assessed by the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score or grade. Overall survival according to SVR status and baseline ALBI grade was examined. We also studied time to first decompensation according to ALBI grade, as well as longitudinal changes in ALBI score over time according to SVR. Among the patients receiving DAAs, 89% achieved SVR (Japan = 99%, UK = 78%). Amongst the decompensated patients in the UK cohort, three distinct risk groups according to ALBI grade at baseline were observed. The UK patients receiving DAAs, who had predominantly decompensated disease, showed clear evidence of improvement of liver function detectable within 2 years of the start of treatment, especially in those achieving SVR. These early changes in liver function were very similar to those observed in the first 2-3 years after interferon-based therapy. DAAs improve liver function especially in those with decompensated disease who achieve SVR. Experience with interferon-based therapy suggests that failure to achieve SVR is associated with long-term decline in liver function and, in contrast, patients who do achieve SVR can expect long-term disease improvement and subsequent stabilization of liver function. Our initial analysis suggests that those receiving DAAs are likely, in the long term, to follow a similar course.
AB - Whilst the benefit of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in achieving sustained virological response (SVR) is now well-accepted, their impact on liver function, particularly in relation to achievement of SVR, has not been well documented. We studied 2394 patients with chronic HCV infection, 1276 receiving DAAs and 1118 interferon-based therapy. Liver function was assessed by the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score or grade. Overall survival according to SVR status and baseline ALBI grade was examined. We also studied time to first decompensation according to ALBI grade, as well as longitudinal changes in ALBI score over time according to SVR. Among the patients receiving DAAs, 89% achieved SVR (Japan = 99%, UK = 78%). Amongst the decompensated patients in the UK cohort, three distinct risk groups according to ALBI grade at baseline were observed. The UK patients receiving DAAs, who had predominantly decompensated disease, showed clear evidence of improvement of liver function detectable within 2 years of the start of treatment, especially in those achieving SVR. These early changes in liver function were very similar to those observed in the first 2-3 years after interferon-based therapy. DAAs improve liver function especially in those with decompensated disease who achieve SVR. Experience with interferon-based therapy suggests that failure to achieve SVR is associated with long-term decline in liver function and, in contrast, patients who do achieve SVR can expect long-term disease improvement and subsequent stabilization of liver function. Our initial analysis suggests that those receiving DAAs are likely, in the long term, to follow a similar course.
KW - Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
KW - Bilirubin
KW - Hepacivirus
KW - Hepatitis C, Chronic/drug therapy
KW - Humans
KW - Sustained Virologic Response
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096652237&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jvh.13408
DO - 10.1111/jvh.13408
M3 - Article
C2 - 32978982
SN - 1352-0504
VL - 28
SP - 168
EP - 176
JO - Journal of viral hepatitis
JF - Journal of viral hepatitis
IS - 1
ER -