Lower incidence of hepatic failure than hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that the development of hepatic failure was found more frequently than that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C in the United States and European countries. We investigated the status in Japan in a retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
The incidences of HCC and hepatic failure were accessed in 459 patients with biopsy-proven C-viral chronic liver disease with a mean follow-up period of 8.9+/-3.2 years and the cause of death was also analyzed in the cohort.


RESULTS
HCC developed in 63 patients, 46 of 355 interferon (IFN)-treated and 17 of 104 untreated patients. In contrast, the development of hepatic failure was found in 18 patients, 12 of 355 IFN-treated and six of 104 untreated patients. HCC developed in four of 116 with sustained virological response (SVR), and hepatic failure developed in one of them. Thirty-two of 63 patients developing HCC and eight of 18 patients developing hepatic failure died.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of hepatic failure was less frequent than that of HCC in Japan. It is important for a favorable prognosis of patients with C viral chronic liver disease to achieve a higher SVR and thus inhibit the development of HCC in Japan.
Imazeki
Fumio
F
Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. imazekif@faculty.chiba-u.jp
Yokosuka
Osamu
O
Fukai
Kenichi
K
Kawai
Shigenobu
S
Kanda
Tatsuo
T
Kojima
Hiroshige
H
Saisho
Hiromitsu
H
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons