TY - JOUR
T1 - An analysis of risk factors for developing hepatocellular carcinoma in a group of hepatitis C patients with stage 3 fibrosis following interferon therapy
AU - Mahmood, Sabina
AU - Togawa, Kazumi
AU - Kawanaka, Miwa
AU - Niiyama, Gouichi
AU - Yamada, Gotaro
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - The risk of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is high in HCV-infected patients who have biochemically and histologically active chronic hepatitis. To observe the long prognosis of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) patients with stage 3 fibrosis (F3), 55 CHC patients after initial Interferon (IFN) therapy were followed up for up to 12 years (average 9.8 ± 2.3 years). According to the annual average alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, patients were grouped into, low (ALT ≦ 30 IU/l); moderate (ALT >30 <80 IU/l) and high (ALT ≧ 80 IU/l) ALT groups. Eleven patients were re-treated with IFN. During the follow-up period of 12 years, HCC developed in 26 patients with an average annual incidence of 3.9%. Biochemical responders to initial IFN therapy (n = 8) and those re-treated with IFN (n = 10), except 1, did not develop HCC. Cox regression analysis to evaluate risk factors for HCC occurrence, found development of Liver Cirrhosis within 3 years of initial IFN therapy(P = 0.05) and the 3 year annual average ALT post initial IFN therapy (P = 0.033) to be significant. The 12 year annual average ALT was also found to be significantly related to HCC occurrence (P = 0.016), on univariate analysis. Patients belonging to the continuously low ALT group (ALT ≦ 30 IU/l for ≧3 years), did not develop HCC or receive IFN re-treatment. In CHC patients with F3, after initial IFN therapy, keeping ALT continuously low, below 30 IU/l for 3 years or more seems important. Continuing treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs along with subsequent IFN re-treatment may prevent or delay HCC even in elderly patients.
AB - The risk of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is high in HCV-infected patients who have biochemically and histologically active chronic hepatitis. To observe the long prognosis of Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) patients with stage 3 fibrosis (F3), 55 CHC patients after initial Interferon (IFN) therapy were followed up for up to 12 years (average 9.8 ± 2.3 years). According to the annual average alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, patients were grouped into, low (ALT ≦ 30 IU/l); moderate (ALT >30 <80 IU/l) and high (ALT ≧ 80 IU/l) ALT groups. Eleven patients were re-treated with IFN. During the follow-up period of 12 years, HCC developed in 26 patients with an average annual incidence of 3.9%. Biochemical responders to initial IFN therapy (n = 8) and those re-treated with IFN (n = 10), except 1, did not develop HCC. Cox regression analysis to evaluate risk factors for HCC occurrence, found development of Liver Cirrhosis within 3 years of initial IFN therapy(P = 0.05) and the 3 year annual average ALT post initial IFN therapy (P = 0.033) to be significant. The 12 year annual average ALT was also found to be significantly related to HCC occurrence (P = 0.016), on univariate analysis. Patients belonging to the continuously low ALT group (ALT ≦ 30 IU/l for ≧3 years), did not develop HCC or receive IFN re-treatment. In CHC patients with F3, after initial IFN therapy, keeping ALT continuously low, below 30 IU/l for 3 years or more seems important. Continuing treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs along with subsequent IFN re-treatment may prevent or delay HCC even in elderly patients.
KW - Alanine aminotransferase
KW - Anti-inflammatory drugs
KW - Chronic hepatitis C
KW - Hepatocellular carcinoma
KW - Long prognosis
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U2 - 10.4137/cin.s644
DO - 10.4137/cin.s644
M3 - Article
C2 - 19259418
AN - SCOPUS:49649090335
VL - 6
SP - 381
EP - 387
JO - Cancer Informatics
JF - Cancer Informatics
SN - 1176-9351
ER -