Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after spontaneous and nucleos(t)ide analogue induced hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance.

Abstract

e16162 Background: Despite a favorable clinical course, the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still exists in patients achieving HBsAg seroclearance. Therefore, we investigated the incidence of HCC after spontaneous and nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) induced HBsAg seroclearance in real-life clinical practice. Methods: A cohort study was conducted using data from Gangnam Severance Hospital. We identified all subjects with positive HBsAg between January 1, 2001 and March 21, 2018. NA use, liver biochemistries, serial HBsAg and anti-HBs results were retrieved. The primary endpoint was the incidence of HCC after naturally and NA induced HBsAg seroclearance. Results: Among the 5,609 HBsAg-positive patients, 83 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients achieved HBsAg seroclearance during 19 years. The cumulative incidence of HBsAg seroclearance was 0.024% at 2 years to 32.4% at 19 years. Of the 83 patients with HBsAg seroclearance, 52 patients achieved spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance and 31 patients achieved NA-induced HBsAg seroclearance. Of 52 patients with spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance, only one patient (2%) developed HCC 6 months after HBsAg seroclearance. On the other hands, there was no development of HCC in patients with NA-induced HBsAg seroclearance. No significant difference was observed in the cumulative incidence of HCC between two groups ( P=0.443). All patients had sustained HBsAg seroclearance and there was no HBsAg seroreversion. Conclusions: The incidence of HCC was extremely rare after spontaneous and NA induced HBsAg seroclearance in real-life clinical practice. NA-induced HBsAg seroclearance is also as durable as spontaenous HBsAg seroclearance.