Persistent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma despite improvement of liver stiffness in patients with chronic HBV with advanced fibrosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Patients with chronic HBV (CHB) with advanced fibrosis are at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) correlates with fibrosis in untreated patients, and is used to monitor changes in severity of liver disease. However, the association between on-treatment LSM and HCC risk is controversial.

Methods

We conducted an international multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients with CHB with advanced fibrosis and assessed the association between on-treatment LSM, HCC development, and decompensation events.

Results

We analyzed 562 patients (62.8% F4 LSM measurement, 69.2% Asian). During antiviral therapy, the on-treatment LSM decreased to <6 kPa in 209 (37.2%), to 6-9 kPa in 174 (31.0%), and remained >9 kPa in 1

SUBMITTER: Patmore LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12550779 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature