Hepatocellular carcinoma after direct‐acting antiviral drug treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus.

Background and Aim: Given the use of direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV), their effects on hepatocarcinogenesis should be determined. Methods: This study enrolled 349 patients with HCV who underwent DAA treatment at our hospital between 2014 and 2018. Their median age was 65 years, and 184 were male; 301 cases were of HCV serotype 1, and 48 were of serotype 2. The DAA treatment was daclatasvir/asunaprevir in 107 cases, sofosbuvir (SOF)/ledipasvir in 147 cases, ritonavir‐boosted ombitasvir/paritaprevir in 28 cases, elbasvir/grazoprevir in 19 cases, and SOF/ribavirin in 48 cases. The patients' histories included hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 45 cases, liver transplant (LT) in 10 cases, and kidney transplant (KT) in 17 cases. Results: Sustained virological responses occurred in 335 cases (96%). DAA treatment was initiated a median of 16.3 months after HCC treatment. After DAA treatment, 15 cases (33%) had recurrence of HCC after a median of 11.6 months, and 3 cases (1%) developed de novo HCC. Six LT patients and one KT patient had HCC; however, no HCC was observed after DAA. The incidence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with multiple HCC treatments in the Cox hazard model (hazard ratio 1.664, 95% confidence interval 1.134–2.441, P < 0.01). Surgical resection or LT reduced the risk of HCC. Conclusions: DAA did not increase the rate of HCC, even in immunosuppressed patients. However, careful follow‐up for HCC recurrence is required in previously treated cases. Direct‐acting antivirals did not increase the rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even in immunosuppressed patients. However, careful follow‐up for HCC recurrence is required in previously treated cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]