Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant public health issue, with an increasing seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibodies from 2.3% to 2.8% between 1990 and 2005. The majority of acutely infected patients (80%-85%) progress to chronic infection, leading to severe complications such as cirrhosis, portal hypertension, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in 2011 has revolutionized HCV treatment, achieving over 90% sustained viral response (SVR).

This study highlights that while DAA treatments have significantly advanced, achieving high cure rates and reducing complications, challenges remain. Chronic liver fibrosis post-SVR is a critical predictor for liver-related events (LRE). The study evaluated long-term liver stiffness changes using transient elastography (TE) after SVR with DAA treatment, showing significant fibrosis regression up to 144 weeks. Comparing this to peg-IFN/RBV treatment, the DAA group had higher regression rates. Both groups showed similar hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rates post-SVR, indicating effective fibrosis reduction with DAAs. Continued efforts in enhancing prevention, treatment, and interprofessional care strategies are essential for achieving HCV elimination goals.

Reference: Basit H, Tyagi I, Koirala J. Hepatitis C. 2023 Mar 26. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 28613647.