I have always heard that treatment can improve ones liver but studies showing that are rare. Here is a small one.
J Infect. 2006 Dec 26; : 17194480 (P,S,E,B,D) Impact of peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin treatment on liver tissue in patients with HCV or HCV-HIV co-infection.
[My paper] Rui Sarmento-Castro, Ana Horta, Olga Vasconcelos, Helena Coelho, Josefina Mendez, Ana Paula Tavares, João Seabra, Manuela Duarte, Leonor Chaves, Olga Fortes, Cristina Recalde, Angela Ventura, Nuno Pires, Luciana Pinho, Nancy Dias, Fátima Carneiro
Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital de Joaquim Urbano, Rua Câmara Pestana 348, 4369-004 Porto, Portugal.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin on liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with or without HIV infection. METHODS: Patients received peginterferon alpha-2b (1.5mu/kg/week during the first 4weeks; 1.0mu/kg/week thereafter) plus ribavirin (800-1200mg/day, adjusted for weight) for 24 (genotypes 2/3) or 48weeks (genotypes 1/4). Paired liver biopsy specimens were obtained at baseline and at the end of follow-up. RESULTS: 108 paired biopsy specimens were available: 67 from HCV-monoinfected and 41 from co-infected patients. At the end of follow-up, necroinflammatory activity (NIA) was significantly reduced (P/=1 point (Ishak et al criteria) in 65.7% of HCV-monoinfected patients. In co-infected patients, NIA was significantly reduced (P/=1 point in 42.5% of cases. In both groups, results were better for patients who attained sustained virological response (SVR). HCV RNA was undetectable in the second biopsy specimens of all patients who attained SVR. CONCLUSION: Liver fibrosis is reduced significantly after a course of therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Reduction of fibrosis is more significant in patients who are monoinfected with HCV and in those who attained SVR.