title: Lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis in hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response by pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To elucidate the benefits of successful antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 463 CHC patients who underwent pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy were classified as sustained virological response (SVR) or non-SVR based on response to antiviral therapy. We investigated disease progression to cirrhosis in non-cirrhotic patients, development of cirrhosis-related complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred patients achieved SVR, and 163 were classified into the non-SVR group. The overall SVR rates were 64.8 %, and multivariate analysis showed that younger age, non-cirrhosis, HCV genotype 2 or 3, lower HCV RNA level (<800,000 IU/mL), and lower body weight were independent factors associated with SVR (all P < 0.05). During a median follow-up of 36.1 months, non-cirrhotic patients with SVR had significantly lower risk of progression to cirrhosis compared with patients with non-SVR (P < 0.001). Moreover, SVR was related to a reduced risk of HCC development (P = 0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SVR resulted in significantly more favorable long-term outcomes, such as lower risk of progression to cirrhosis and HCC occurrence compared with non-SVR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea.
authors.forename: Chansoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Kyu Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Do Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Oidov
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baatarkhuu
authors.forename: Jun Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Beom Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Up
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Kwang-Hyub
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065840:Protective Factors; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a