Nakagomi R, et al. – Given that liver stiffness (LS; measured by transient elastography) has been validated as a non-invasive surrogate for liver fibrosis, researchers examined the long-term predictive ability of LS for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and overall survival in 1,146 patients with chronic hepatitis C by utilizing LS value at enrollment. In addition, they studied chronological changes in LS based on anti-viral therapy and its outcome in 752 patients. They noted that, in those who achieved sustained virological responses (SVRs), LS declined at a rate of 8.1% per year. However, in those who could not achieve SVR rather than anti-viral therapy, LS increased at 0.1% per year, and in those who did not undergo anti-viral therapy, LS increased at 3.7% per year. Findings suggested that LS measurements could be helpful in the forecast of HCC development and overall survival, and in the assessment of chronological changes in liver fibrosis grade during and after anti-viral therapy.