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Lower Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cirrhosis in Hepatitis C Patients with Sustained Virological Response by Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea

    Chansoo Moon, Kyu Sik Jung, Do Young Kim, Oidov Baatarkhuu, Jun Yong Park, Beom Kyung Kim, Seung Up Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn & Kwang-Hyub Han

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Health Sciences University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Oidov Baatarkhuu

Authors
  1. Chansoo Moon
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  2. Kyu Sik Jung
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  3. Do Young Kim
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  4. Oidov Baatarkhuu
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  6. Beom Kyung Kim
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  7. Seung Up Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Do Young Kim.

Additional information

Chansoo Moon and Kyu Sik Jung have equally contributed to this work.

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Moon, C., Jung, K.S., Kim, D.Y. et al. Lower Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cirrhosis in Hepatitis C Patients with Sustained Virological Response by Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin. Dig Dis Sci 60, 573–581 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-014-3361-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-014-3361-6

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