scholarly journals ERADICATION OF HCV INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS: FACTOR OF CANCER PREVENTION OR CARCINOGENESIS?

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-96
Author(s):  
N. A. Malinina ◽  
N. V. Mazurchik ◽  
O. I. Tarasova ◽  
P. P. Ogurtsov

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of death from cancer and is the final stage of chronic liver disease, usually occurring in patients with cirrhosis (CP). Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to progressive liver inflammation and cirrhosis because this virus specifically affects liver tissue. Previously used interferon therapy had a relatively low efficiency and very high risks of side effects. During the period of administration of interferon (IFN) schemes it was proved that elimination of the virus significantly reduced risk of liver cancer development. Discovery of direct-acting antiviral (DAA ) drugs have revolutionized HCV therapy with virus elimination rate of more than 95 % and an excellent safety profile. However, the risk of transformation of liver cirrhosis into hepatocellular carcinoma is still high even after complete eradication of the virus. Numerous studies have shown conflicting results on the possible relationship between the use of new antiviral drugs and the increase in the frequency of newly diagnosed or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, the long-term prognosis in terms of risk for HCC development among patients with sustained virological response (SVR) remains unclear.The purpose of the study was to analyze the literature on the effect of antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C with interferon-containing regimens and drugs of direct antiviral action on the risk of developing or recurring hepatocellular carcinoma.Material and Methods. We analyzed publications available from PubMed, S copus, E-library, Web of S cience using the key words “hepatocellular carcinoma”, “chronic hepatitis C”, “direct-acting antiviral drugs”, “liver cirrhosis”, “interferons”, and “sustained virological response”. Of the 99 studies found, 21 were used to write a systematic review.Results. Eradication of the virus reduces the risks of HCC. Despite reports on high risk of occurrence or recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis after treatment with DAA s compared with interferon-containing regimens, there is not enough data confirming the direct link between the use of DAA s and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. No statistically significant difference in the frequency of HCC between patients treated with interferon or DAA s was detected.Conclusion. Eradication of the virus is the most significant factor in the prevention of HCC; therefore, treatment of CHC should not be delayed due to the risk of HCC. Patients with liver cirrhosis require a long period of follow-up, even after successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C with DAA drugs. Stratification of HCC risk requires further research.

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  
Leona Radmanić ◽  
Adriana Vince ◽  
Snježana Židovec Lepej ◽  
Davorka Dušek ◽  
Ivan Kurelac ◽  
...  

Hepatitis C vodeći je uzrok kronične bolesti jetre, hepatocelularnog karcinoma i važna indikacija za transplantaciju jetre. Glavni cilj liječenja je postizanje trajnog virološkog odgovora koji označava negativnu viremiju 12 tjedana nakon završetka liječenja (SVR, od engl. sustained virological response). Uvođenjem antivirusnih lijekova s izravnim djelovanjem, povećala se stopa SVR-a, skratilo vrijeme trajanja terapije i utjecalo se na stadij fibroze i steatoze jetre nakon liječenja. Cilj ovog rada bio je analizirati promjenu stadija fibroze (F1-F4) i steatoze (S0-S3) primjenom tranzijentne elastografije u prethodno neliječenih bolesnika s kroničnim hepatitisom C (n=205) koji su postigli trajni virološki odgovor, a bili liječeni isključivo direktno djelujućim antivirusnim lijekovima (DAA).


ANKEM Dergisi ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz Ahmad Hamidi ◽  
Cüneyt Kuru

The sustained virological response is achieved in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection using direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. However, it is not known whether there is a decrease in liver fibrosis level. Non-invasive serum scores are successful in determining the level of liver fibrosis before treatment. There are no adequate studies in the literature about the use of these scores after treatment. This study aimed to determine the change in inflammation and fibrosis levels after treatment by using non-invasive scores. Adult patients who applied to the Karabuk University Training and Research Hospital between January 2019 and January 2020 and used DAA treatment were included in the study. Clinical and laboratory findings of the cases were recorded retrospectively from the hospital information system. Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-platelet ratio index (APRI), γ glutamate transpeptidase-platelet ratio (GPR) and AST / ALT ratio scores were calculated before and after (24th week) treatment. Forty-two patients with a mean age of 56.4 were evaluated. 52% of these patients were women. All patients developed a sustained virological response. Genotype 1b was the most common (67 %). The most commonly used treatment regimen (60 %) was paritaprevir + ritonavir + ombitasvir + dasabuvir. After treatment compared to pretreatment, mean AST value decreased from 24.69 to 20.67, mean ALT value decreased from 20.57 to 15.31 and APRI from 0.33 to 0.29 (p=0.01; p=0.03; p=0.01, respectively). Although not statistically significant, FIB-4 was low after treatment. In conclusion, the use of non-invasive serum biomarker scores may be useful in the follow-up of chronic hepatitis C cases using DAA treatment.


Author(s):  
Rehab Badawi ◽  
Shaimaa Soliman ◽  
Lobna Aboali ◽  
Mahmoud Elkadeem ◽  
Asem Elfert ◽  
...  

Background & Aims: This study aimed to assess the changes in platelet counts of patients with liver cirrhosis due to chronic HCV, who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) after taking direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in a large cohort study in Egypt. Methods: This multicenter observational retrospective study was carried out on 2500 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients who achieved (SVR) after treatment with direct acting antiviral drugs (DAA). HCV infection was confirmed by positive PCR for HCV RNA infection. SVR was defined as a negative PCR test for HCV-RNA 12 weeks after completion of DAA therapy. Platelets count was measured before therapy, during therapy, at the end of treatment, and 12 weeks after the end of the treatment. Results: There were 2186 patients enrolled in the study; 1866 (85.4%) were treatment naïve. There were 1006 (46%) males and 1180 (54%) females. Mean age was 50.82± 11.66 years, 2142 (98 %.0) patients achieved SVR, 2118 (96.9%) patients had Child -Pugh class A cirrhosis, and 68 (3.1%) had Child -Pugh class B liver cirrhosis. A significant increase of the platelets count was detected at the end of treatment in comparison to the pretreatment levels (P<0.001), and after achieving SVR (P <0.001) when compared to the pretreatment values. Conclusion: Improvement of platelets count occurs after HCV therapy with DAAS in patients with liver cirrhosis. These results suggested that HCV eradication may have a role in improvement of platelet count.


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