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The risk of early occurrence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C‐infected patients treated with direct‐acting antivirals with and without pegylated interferon: A Belgian experience
Author(s) -
Bielen R.,
Moreno C.,
Van Vlierberghe H.,
Bourgeois S.,
Mulkay J.P.,
Vanwolleghem T.,
Verlinden W.,
Brixco C.,
Decaestecker J.,
Galocsy C.,
Janssens F.,
Van Overbeke L.,
Van Steenkiste C.,
D'Heygere F.,
Cool M.,
Wuyckens K.,
Nevens F.,
Robaeys G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/jvh.12726
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , gastroenterology , pegylated interferon , peg ratio , retrospective cohort study , hepatitis c , interferon , surgery , hepatitis c virus , immunology , ribavirin , virus , finance , economics
Summary Recently, concerns were raised of high rates of HCC recurrence in patients treated with direct‐acting antivirals ( DAA ) for hepatitis C infection. We investigated the HCC occurrence and recurrence rates within 6 months after treatment with DAA with or without pegylated interferon ( PEG ‐ IFN ) in real life. This is a retrospective, multicenter cohort trial, executed in 15 hospitals distributed across Belgium. Populations were matched based on fibrosis score (Metavir F3‐F4). Patients with a Child‐Pugh score ≥ B were excluded. In total, 567 patients were included, of whom 77 were treated with PEG ‐ IFN + DAA between 2008 and 2013 and 490 with DAA without PEG ‐ IFN between 2013 and 2015. Patients treated with PEG ‐ IFN + DAA (53±9y) were younger than patients treated with DAA without PEG ‐ IFN (59±12y) ( P =.001). 47% of patients treated with PEG ‐ IFN + DAA were in the F4 stage vs 67% of patients treated with DAA without PEG ‐ IFN ( P =.001). Screening was inadequate in 20% of both patient groups ( P =.664). The early occurrence rate of HCC was 1.7% and 1.1% in patients treated with DAA with and without PEG ‐ IFN , respectively ( P =.540). The early recurrence rate was 0% in patients treated with PEG ‐ IFN + DAA and 15.0% in patients treated with DAA without PEG ‐ IFN ( P =.857). There is no difference in early occurrence of new HCC between patients treated with DAA with and without PEG ‐ IFN . We did observe a high early recurrence rate of HCC in patients treated with DAA without PEG ‐ IFN . However, these patients were at baseline more at risk for HCC . Finally, in 20%, screening for HCC was inadequate.