Resolution of HCV-Autoimmune Hepatitis Overlap Syndrome With Antiviral TreatmentA Paired Liver Biopsy Study

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate histologic changes occurring in patients having chronic hepatitis C and autoimmune hepatitis overlap (HCV-AIH), and who achieved virologic cure using direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA).

Methods: Characteristics of HCV-AIH patients who underwent paired liver biopsies before and after receiving DAA treatment from 2011 to 2018 were evaluated.

Results: Five HCV-AIH patients (three male; mean age, 60.4 years) underwent paired liver biopsies (average interval, 2.3 years) before and after achieving cure with DAA treatment. All patients showed virologic response, while four showed decreased inflammation, and three cases showed features of fibrosis regression. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated significant decrease in plasma cell count in three patients (20.6 vs 11.9 plasma cells/high power field; P = .02, t test).

Conclusions: Histologic improvements in inflammation and fibrosis are noted in most HCV-AIH patients after DAA treatment, suggesting that the autoimmune component of the HCV-AIH overlap syndrome is merely a secondary phenomenon of viral infection.

Keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis; DAA; HCV; Liver biopsy; Overlap syndrome.