title: Interferon therapy following treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in an 83-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis.
abstract: A sustained virological response and improvement of liver function were achieved by low-dose interferon (IFN) therapy following curative treatment of initial and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in an 83-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver cirrhosis (CLC). Although a fourth HCC episode recurred 16 months after IFN therapy, it was successfully treated. The patient is still alive 6 years and 7 months after diagnosis of the initial HCC and has been in a tumor-free state for 19 months following treatment of the last HCC. The results of this case suggest that, given sufficient consideration of adverse effects, IFN therapy for HCV and repeated local treatment for HCC contribute to improving the prognosis even in the case of a CLC patient over 80 years of age whose condition is complicated by recurrent HCC.
authors.affiliation: Kawasaki Medical Clinic, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita, 879-5511, Japan. kudo.y.kousei.114516@sunny.ocn.ne.jp.|Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan. kudo.y.kousei.114516@sunny.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshikuni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.affiliation: The Health Science Center, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terao
authors.affiliation: Zeze Hospital, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Zeze Hospital, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeze
authors.affiliation: Kawasaki Medical Clinic, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita, 879-5511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.affiliation: The Health Science Center, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujioka
keywords: Elderly; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Interferon therapy; Liver cirrhosis