title: Hepatocarcinogenesis following HCV RNA eradication by interferon in chronic hepatitis patients.
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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo. ZXC00701@nifty.ne.jp
authors.forename: Miharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Yasuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arase
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yatsuji
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sezaki
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akuta
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons