HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA INCIDENCE IN HEPATITIS C PATIENTS TREATED WITH DIRECT-ACTING ANTIVIRALS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HEPATIC FIBROSIS STAGE

Abstract

The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a major impact on public health and is thought to be responsiblefor 25% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 27% of cirrhosis cases worldwide.Recent direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C have the potential to reduce this diseaseburden, but there are increased worries about HCC incidence in HCV patients receivingDAAs. This work assessed the HCC incidence in HCV patients treated with DAAs and its relationship to Hepatic Fibrosis Stage.The study included 400 chronic HCV patients equally divided into two groups: chronicHCV patients who did not receive anti HCV medication (control group) and chronic HCV patientswho received different DAAs treatment regimens. There was a highly significant differencebetween both groups as regards hepatic fibrosis stages before DAAs therapy. The DAAreceiving group had highly statistically advanced hepatic fibrosis when compared to the controlgroup. After eighteen months of follow up, the DAA receiving group had a significantlylower incidence of HCC when compared to the control group (5.5% versus 11% respectively,p-value 0.04).