Varying incidence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C responding differently to interferon therapy.

摘要: BACKGROUND To determine whether interferon (IFN) therapy can reduce incidence of the development cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma equally in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) who responded differently to therapy, a retrospective analysis 250 treated IFN was conducted. METHODS Two hundred fifty HCV were classified into 3 groups based on serum aminotransferase levels during after IFN-α: long term responders (n = 93), short 70), nonresponders 87). Eighty-nine untreated served as control group. The follow-up period 4 years. Liver function tests, RNA levels, α-fetoprotein measured each month. Imaging diagnosis made every 6 months ultrasonography yearly dynamic computed tomography. Serum liver assayed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction branched DNA probe. RESULTS Of 93 responders, 67 (72%) remained negative whereas 26 (28%) positive. Further histologic improvement occurred only responders. During period, overall annual decreased significantly compared group, not. None but 5 (7%) 33 (38%) had disease progression cirrhosis. No 1 (3.8%) positive responder, (1.4%) 14 (16%) developed carcinoma. Long lower higher than Multivariate showed that staging score, presence high viral lack response influenced these events. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest responding different carcinoma, should be regarded group at risk for events. Cancer 1999;85:1943–50. © 1999 American Society.