Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapy

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) hepatitis C treatment can reduce fibrosis and prevent cirrhosis and its sequelae. This study aims to evaluate changes in fibrosis and lab measurements from pre-treatment to post-treatment and over time following the end-of-treatment among Alaska Native and American Indi...

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Main Authors: Janet M. Johnston, Lisa Townshend-Bulson, Brian McMahon, Dana Bruden, Chriss Homan, Kena Desai, Wileina Rhodes, Youssef Barbour
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Circumpolar Health
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2025.2535044
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author Janet M. Johnston
Lisa Townshend-Bulson
Brian McMahon
Dana Bruden
Chriss Homan
Kena Desai
Wileina Rhodes
Youssef Barbour
author_facet Janet M. Johnston
Lisa Townshend-Bulson
Brian McMahon
Dana Bruden
Chriss Homan
Kena Desai
Wileina Rhodes
Youssef Barbour
author_sort Janet M. Johnston
collection DOAJ
description Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) hepatitis C treatment can reduce fibrosis and prevent cirrhosis and its sequelae. This study aims to evaluate changes in fibrosis and lab measurements from pre-treatment to post-treatment and over time following the end-of-treatment among Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) peoples treated with sofosbuvir-based DAAs between 2014 and 2023. Study participants were predominantly male (53.9%) with a mean age of 54.4 years at start of treatment. Among the 290 (61.3%) participants with at least one pre- and one post-treatment Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM), post-treatment LSM was significantly lower than pre-treatment LSM (p < 0.001). Median post-treatment LSM increased with increasing pre-treatment fibrosis stage (p < 0.001). Median values for ALT, AST, AFP, FIB-4 and APRI decreased significantly between pre- and post-treatment visits (p ≤ 0.002), while platelets remained stable (p = 0.827). The majority of AN/AI adults successfully treated with sofosbuvir-based DAAs experienced a reduction in LSM, with LSM subsequently remaining stable up to 4 years following end-of-treatment. Liver function and blood-based estimates of fibrosis also improved. The most important predictor of LSM improvement was pre-treatment fibrosis stage.
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spelling doaj-art-a1f70530de1441d4a86abf2c08622dec2025-08-20T03:31:33ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health2242-39822025-12-0184110.1080/22423982.2025.2535044Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapyJanet M. Johnston0Lisa Townshend-Bulson1Brian McMahon2Dana Bruden3Chriss Homan4Kena Desai5Wileina Rhodes6Youssef Barbour7Liver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USALiver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USALiver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USAArctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, AK, USALiver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USALiver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USALiver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USALiver Disease and Hepatitis Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK, USADirect-acting antiviral (DAA) hepatitis C treatment can reduce fibrosis and prevent cirrhosis and its sequelae. This study aims to evaluate changes in fibrosis and lab measurements from pre-treatment to post-treatment and over time following the end-of-treatment among Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) peoples treated with sofosbuvir-based DAAs between 2014 and 2023. Study participants were predominantly male (53.9%) with a mean age of 54.4 years at start of treatment. Among the 290 (61.3%) participants with at least one pre- and one post-treatment Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM), post-treatment LSM was significantly lower than pre-treatment LSM (p < 0.001). Median post-treatment LSM increased with increasing pre-treatment fibrosis stage (p < 0.001). Median values for ALT, AST, AFP, FIB-4 and APRI decreased significantly between pre- and post-treatment visits (p ≤ 0.002), while platelets remained stable (p = 0.827). The majority of AN/AI adults successfully treated with sofosbuvir-based DAAs experienced a reduction in LSM, with LSM subsequently remaining stable up to 4 years following end-of-treatment. Liver function and blood-based estimates of fibrosis also improved. The most important predictor of LSM improvement was pre-treatment fibrosis stage.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2025.2535044Hepatitis Cdirect acting antiviral therapyAlaska NativefibrosisVibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE)
spellingShingle Janet M. Johnston
Lisa Townshend-Bulson
Brian McMahon
Dana Bruden
Chriss Homan
Kena Desai
Wileina Rhodes
Youssef Barbour
Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapy
International Journal of Circumpolar Health
Hepatitis C
direct acting antiviral therapy
Alaska Native
fibrosis
Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE)
title Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapy
title_full Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapy
title_fullStr Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapy
title_full_unstemmed Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapy
title_short Changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis C sustained virologic response among Alaska Native adults treated with sofosbuvir-based direct acting anti-viral therapy
title_sort changes in liver stiffness measurements following hepatitis c sustained virologic response among alaska native adults treated with sofosbuvir based direct acting anti viral therapy
topic Hepatitis C
direct acting antiviral therapy
Alaska Native
fibrosis
Vibration-Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE)
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2025.2535044
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