Hepatic vein transit times of a microbubble agent in assessing response to antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C

摘要: Summary.  Microbubble measurement of hepatic vein transit times (HVTT) may have the potential to assess severity hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease, where there is a shorter HVTT with more severe disease. We investigated utility this test as marker response antiviral treatment. Thirty-seven patients biopsy-proven HCV-related disease undergoing treatment were studied. All had baseline scans and then repeat 6 months after end using Levovist obtained from right middle veins, time was used for analysis. The aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index (APRI) scores calculated retrospectively. There seven mild hepatitis, 23 moderate/severe cirrhosis. mean in responders ± SE increased 27.3 ± 2.29 s 33.5 ± 2.8 s posttreatment (P = 0.01). In 10 nonresponders, remained same; 43.3 ± 9 s compared 44 ± 7.8 s (P = 0.84). This trend also seen APRI score responders, decreased 1.1 ± 0.2 0.74 ± 1 (P = 0.03) unchanged; 0.88 ± 0.2 0.84 ± 0.2 (P = 0.31). lengthened, while who responded both same, shortened or (APRI), respectively, nonresponders. These results are encouraging indicate that these tests could be potentially markers obviate need serial biopsies future studies.