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Portal Hypertension Reverses Following Successful Antiviral Treatment for HCV: Fact or Fiction?

  • Portal Hypertension (J Gonzalez-Abraldes and E Tsochatzis, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The development of portal hypertension has relevant implications in the natural history of patients with hepatitis C-related liver disease. Indeed, when the hepatic venous pressure gradient is ≥ 10 mmHg (clinical significant portal hypertension—CSPH), the risk of decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, or death markedly increases.

Recent Findings

The achievement of sustained virological response (SVR) has been associated with a reduction in portal pressure. The use of all-oral antiviral regimens allows treating patients with more advanced liver disease (CSPH or decompensated). However, currently available data show that the impact of SVR on portal pressure, at least in the short term, is limited.

Summary

It is relevant to recognize that, despite achieving SVR and a reduction in portal pressure, CSPH and the risk of liver-related complications persist in a significant proportion of patients with advanced disease. Studies with longer follow-up are awaited to assess the real magnitude of hepatitis C treatment on portal pressure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain

    Sabela Lens, Claudia Berbel, Xavier Forns & Juan Carlos García-Pagán

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  1. Sabela Lens
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  2. Claudia Berbel
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  3. Xavier Forns
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  4. Juan Carlos García-Pagán
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Carlos García-Pagán.

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Conflict of Interest

Sabela Lens reports personal fees from Abbvie, personal fees from Gilead, and personal fees from Jansseen, outside the submitted work; Claudia Berbel declares no conflicts of interest;

Xavier Forns reports grants from Abbvie, personal fees from Gilead, and personal fees from Janssen, outside the submitted work; Juan Carlos García-Pagán reports personal fees from Gore, grants from Novartis, and grants from Exalenz, outside the submitted work.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Portal Hypertension

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Lens, S., Berbel, C., Forns, X. et al. Portal Hypertension Reverses Following Successful Antiviral Treatment for HCV: Fact or Fiction?. Curr Hepatology Rep 17, 209–217 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-018-0405-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-018-0405-y

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