Internal Medicine
Online ISSN : 1349-7235
Print ISSN : 0918-2918
ISSN-L : 0918-2918
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Hepatocarcinogenesis Following HCV RNA Eradication by Interferon in Chronic Hepatitis Patients
Miharu HirakawaKenji IkedaYasuji AraseYusuke KawamuraHiromi YatsujiTetsuya HosakaHitomi SezakiNorio AkutaMasahiro KobayashiSatoshi SaitohFumitaka SuzukiYoshiyuki SuzukiHiromitsu Kumada
Author information
JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2008 Volume 47 Issue 19 Pages 1637-1643

Details
Abstract

Objective Interferon (IFN) therapy reduces the incidence of hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection who achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of hepatocarcinogenesis and the risk factor in sustained virological responders.
Patients and Method The study subjects were 1,193 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and IFN- or IFN plus ribavirin-induced SVR. The age, male/female ratio, and liver fibrosis stage [(F0-F3)/LC] were 15-83 years, 808/385, and 1106/41, respectively. Patients were followed-up for 8.3 years (range, 0 to 19.0 years) and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma was recorded.
Results Hepatocellular carcinogenesis was detected in 23 patients during the follow-up. The crude rates of hepatocarcinogenesis at 5, 10, and 15 years were 1.5%, 2.4% and 4.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified cirrhosis, male sex and age older than 50 years as determinants of hepatocarcinogenesis with hazard ratios of 12.9 (p<0.001), 6.45 (p=0.012), and 20.2 (p=0.004), respectively.
Conclusion Long-term follow-up of patients with chronic HCV infection is necessary even in those who show SVR, especially in male elderly patients with cirrhosis.

Content from these authors
© 2008 by The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine
Next article
feedback
Top