Persistent elevation of fibrosis biomarker cartilage oligomeric matrix protein following hepatitis C virus eradication

Figure 1 Direct acting antiviral agents-induced sustain viral response is associated with improvements in liver stiffness, aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index but not in S-cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. Box-plots on measurements of liver stiffness (A), aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index (B) and S-cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (C), made at baseline (A-C), 4 wk of treatment (B and C), at end of treatment (B and C) and at 1-2 years follow up (A-C). Center lines show the medians; box limits indicate the 25th and 75th percentiles as determined by R software[12]; whiskers extend 1.5 times the interquartile range from the 25th and 75th percentiles, outliers are represented by dots; data points are plotted as open circles. n = 38 for all measurements. APRI: Aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index; COMP: Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; EOT: End of treatment.