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Sustained virologic response correlated with reduced hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis, according to a recently published study. However, clinically significant portal hypertension continued to persist in most patients.
“Development of [clinically significant portal hypertension] is a hallmark in the natural history of cirrhosis because it is associated with a higher risk of hepatic decompensation, and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and death,” Sabela Lens, MD, from the Universidad de Barcelona, and colleagues wrote. “Our study was performed in [a] large cohort of patients with cirrhosis and CSPH, most of them with esophageal varices and/or previous clinical decompensation. The results clearly show that [hepatic venous pressure gradient] is significantly reduced when evaluated 24 weeks after obtaining SVR with the use of interferon-free regimens.”
“In spite of a significant [hepatic venous pressure gradient] reduction at 6 months after the end of therapy, [clinically significant portal hypertension] persisted in a high proportion of patients (78%), implying that these patients remain at high risk of developing complications of portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma,” the researchers concluded. “It is relevant to closely monitor patients with [clinically significant portal hypertension] despite a relevant [liver stiffness measurement] reduction after SVR.”