Abstract

We previously revealed that Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) predicts non-regression of liver fibrosis based on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) at 24 weeks after anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. In this study, we extended the observational period to 96 weeks to investigate the factors associated with non-regression after treatment with direct-acting-antivirals (DAAs). Patients treated with DAAs who underwent transient elastography at baseline and 24 and 96 weeks after DAA therapy were included. Baseline and post-treatment serum Ang2 levels were measured. Liver fibrosis stages were defined based on LSM. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate factors associated with non-regression of liver fibrosis between various time points. In total, 110 patients were included. Of these, 11% showed non-regression of LSM-based fibrosis stage at 96 weeks after DAA therapy. In multivariate analysis, advanced liver fibrosis stage and high baseline Ang2 levels were significantly associated with non-regression at 96 weeks. In patients with advanced liver fibrosis (F3/4), baseline Ang2 levels were associated with non-regression of liver fibrosis stage. Between SVR24 and SVR96, post-treatment Ang2 levels and controlled attenuation parameter values at SVR24 were significantly associated with non-regression of liver fibrosis stage in patients with F3/4. Thus, serum Ang2 levels are an important target for monitoring and therapy.

Details

Title
Baseline elevated serum angiopoietin-2 predicts long-term non-regression of liver fibrosis after direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C
Author
Kawagishi Naoki 1 ; Suda Goki 1 ; Kimura Megumi 1 ; Maehara Osamu 1 ; Yamada, Ren 1 ; Tokuchi Yoshimasa 1 ; Kubo Akinori 1 ; Kitagataya Takashi 1 ; Shigesawa Taku 1 ; Suzuki Kazuharu 1 ; Ohara Masatsugu 1 ; Nakai Masato 1 ; Sho Takuya 1 ; Natsuizaka Mitsuteru 1 ; Morikawa Kenichi 1 ; Ogawa Koji 1 ; Kudo Yusuke 2 ; Nishida Mutsumi 2 ; Sakamoto Naoya 1 

 Hokkaido University, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan (GRID:grid.39158.36) (ISNI:0000 0001 2173 7691) 
 Hokkaido University Hospital, Division of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan (GRID:grid.412167.7) (ISNI:0000 0004 0378 6088) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2519143193
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.