Liver fibrosis improvement in chronic hepatitis C after direct acting-antivirals is accompanied by reduced profibrogenic biomarkers-a role for MMP-9/TIMP-1.

Background And Aims: Disturbances in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and corresponding tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) contribute to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced fibrosis. This study aimed to determine MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels in addition to MMP-2 and -9 activities; correlating with the improvement of liver fibrosis in patients under direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory follow-up were performed before treatment and after 12 weeks post-treatment, referred as sustained viral response (SVR).