Post-treatment TE values:
LS improved in 124 patients (83.2%) six months after the EOT, but only 33.1% of them (41 patients) could achieve non-cirrhotic ranges (<12.5 kPa). The median (Q1-Q3) LS value at baseline was 26.3 KPa (12.6-75 KPa), which markedly decreased to 20.9 kPa (12-29.7 kPa) [z = -8.45, p-value < 0.001] (Figure 2).
The median (Q1-Q3) CAP value slightly fell from 237 dB/m (207-260 dB/m) to 229 dB/m (201-271 dB/m) within the same time frame, although not statistically significant [z = -0.34, p-value = 0.73]. Hence, we performed a sensitivity analysis on 79 patients with baseline CAP value greater than 220 dB/m. Considering this condition, the liver steatosis also had a significant response to treatment [z = -2.3, p-value = 0.023]. Table 2 summarizes the pre- and post-treatment values of LS. Based on univariate analysis, the only factor that had significant impact on LS improvement was baseline LS value [OR=-0.30, 95% CI (-1.88 - 5.03), p-value < 0.001]. This result remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding variables (gender, age, body mass index (BMI), HCV viral load, genotype, history of prior treatment) using multivariate regression analysis [OR=-0.28, 95% CI (-0.41 - -0.16), p-value < 0.001] (Table 3).