Non‐invasive assessment of fibrosis regression and portal hypertension in patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐associated liver disease and sustained virologic response (SVR): 3 years follow‐up of a prospective longitudinal study

Long‐term effects on cirrhosis and portal hypertension of direct antiviral agent (DAA)‐based eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are still under debate. We analysed dynamics of liver and spleen elastography to assess potential regression of cirrhosis and portal hypertension 3 years post‐treatment. Fifty‐four patients with HCV‐associated cirrhosis and DAA‐induced SVR were included. Liver and spleen stiffness were measured at baseline (BL), end of treatment (EOT), 24 weeks after EOT (FU24) and 1, 2 and 3 (FU144) years post‐treatment by transient liver elastography (L‐TE) and point shear wave elastography (pSWE) using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) of the liver (L‐ARFI) and spleen (S‐ARFI). Biochemical, virological and clinical data were also obtained. Liver stiffness assessed by L‐TE decreased between BL [median (range), 32.5(9.1–75) kPa] and EOT [21.3(6.7–73.5) kPa; p