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Erschienen in:
01.11.2014 | Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
Hepatocarcinogenesis in chronic hepatitis C patients achieving a sustained virological response to interferon: significance of lifelong periodic cancer screening for improving outcomes
Erschienen in: Journal of Gastroenterology | Ausgabe 11/2014
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Background
Due to advances in interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C, most elderly patients, and even many of those with advanced hepatic fibrosis, now achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). However, carcinogenesis remains problematic in these patients. Hence, we aimed to elucidate risk factors for hepatocarcinogenesis in SVR patients and to present an appropriate follow-up protocol for improving outcomes.
Methods
We retrospectively studied 562
consecutive SVR patients for a median observation period of 4.8 years.
Results
Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed in 31 patients (5.5 %). Respective cumulative incidences were 3.1, 10.1, and 15.9 % at 5, 10, and 15 years after completion of IFN therapy. The proportional hazards model identified moderate or advanced fibrosis stage, advanced age, habitual alcohol consumption, and alpha-fetoprotein elevation as determinants of carcinogenesis, with hazard ratios of 10.7 (p < 0.001), 4.1 (p < 0.01), 3.9 (p < 0.01), and 2.6 (p < 0.05), respectively. Carcinoma was diagnosed in 26 % of patients more than 10 years after completion of IFN therapy. Unexpectedly, F2 fibrosis was detected in 42 % of these patients. The 5-year survival rate was 93 % in the patients who had received periodic cancer screening but only 60 % in those who had not.
Conclusion
We recommend that SVR patients be observed at 6-month intervals, at a minimum, to facilitate diagnosis at an early stage, for as long as possible after completion of therapy even if not at an advanced stage of fibrosis.