A new study by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that
treatment and cure of chronic hepatitis C reduce the risk of
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially if given early, before
cirrhosis develops, and while patients are still young. "With the advent of new highly effective medications for treating
hepatitis C, we expect to see a lot of people cured of the disease,"
said Dr. Hashem El-Serag. "However, we did not have good information about what happens to these
people in terms of their future risks of developing HCC after cure." This large and definitive study involved 33,005 individuals infected
with the hepatitis C virus who received treatment in Veterans Health
Administration hospitals throughout the United States, and of whom
10,817 patients achieved cure. Researchers tracked their risk of
developing HCC liver cancer over several years of follow-up and examined
the association between several demographic and clinical features at
the time of the cure with the future risk of liver cancer.
Researchers found that successful antiviral treatment
for hepatitis C is associated with a significant reduction in risk of
cirrhosis, HCC and overall mortality, regardless of age. Therefore,
delaying treatment should not be advised. Patients with hepatitis C aged
65 to 85 years who received less antiviral treatment than younger
patients were more likely to develop cirrhosis and liver cancer than
patients with hepatitis C aged 20 to 49 years.
"Patients with cirrhosis or diabetes or those who are older than 55
who get cured of hepatitis C need continued surveillance according to
current guidelines," said El-Serag.
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