Longitudinal change of liver stiffness by transient elestography in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogue.

Background: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography is a non-invasive method to assess liver fibrosis. Decline in LSM value has been reported after antiviral treatment (AVT) using nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, however, factors associated with changes in LSM during AVT remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 76 CHB patients who received AVT with NUCs and had serial LSM (median duration: 16 months, range: 12 to 35 months) during AVT were analyzed.