Changes in serum myostatin levels among patients with type C liver cirrhosis treated with direct-acting antivirals

Abstract

Aim: To clarify whether direct-acting antiviral treatment improves serum myostatin levels of patients with cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus.

Methods: A total of 99 patients with type C liver cirrhosis were administered direct-acting antiviral treatment. The median age was 73 years, and 58 patients were women. We measured the levels of serum myostatin, decorin, follistatin, and insulin-like growth factor-1, as well as the skeletal muscle mass index at baseline. We measured the sustained virological response at 48 weeks.

Results: Serum myostatin levels of the Child-Pugh class B or C group (n = 30) were significantly higher than those of the Child-Pugh class A group (n = 69) at baseline. The multivariate analysis indicated that the total bilirubin level and Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer level were independent factors associated with serum myostatin levels. Serum myostatin levels significantly decreased, whereas the skeletal muscle mass index and insulin-like growth factor-1 level were significantly increased at 48 weeks.

Conclusions: Direct-acting antiviral treatment decreased serum myostatin levels and may improve sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.

Keywords: cirrhosis; direct‐acting antiviral; hepatitis C virus; myostatin; sarcopenia.