Fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis.

In the last years, several studies have been performed with the aim to evaluate the real impact of antiviral treatments on fibrosis progression in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. The main goal of therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B is viral suppression. This outcome leads to an important improvement in both hepatic inflammation and fibrosis and reduces the HCC occurrence. An histological improvement has been largely demonstrated in patient treated with oral nucleoside and nucleotide analogs achieving the rate of 72% with entecavir and tenofovir. Similarly, in patients with chronic hepatitis C, sustained virologic response to interferon therapy is associated with regression of fibrosis and lower liver decompensation and HCC occurrence. In the next future further studies will assess the real impact of the new directly anti-viral agents on liver necroinflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.