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.