| Theme | Interferon Therapy for Viral Hepatitis : an Update Handbook | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Interferon Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C can Reduce the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Decrease Mortality in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Eradication and/or ALT Normalization | |
| Publish Date | 2000/10 | |
| Author | Akinori Kasahara | Department of General Medicine, Osaka University Hospital |
| Author | Norio Hayashi | Department of Molecular Therapuetics, Osaks University Graduate School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | The cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was higher in chronic hepatitis C patients not receiving interferon treatment than in those receiving this treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that interferon treatment decreased the risk of developing HCC by 48% compared to chronic hepatitis C patients without interferon treatment. The cumulative incidence of HCC in transient responders was almost equal to that in sustained responders. It was significantly higher in non-responders than in sustained or transient responders. The seven-year cumulative incidence rates for HCC in sustained responders, transient responders, and non-responders were estimated to be 4.3%, 4.7% and 26.1%, respectively. The risk of HCC development was not elevated in transient responders, compared to sustained responders, but the risk was five times higher in non-responders compared to sustained responders. The cumulative survival rates for chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon and those without interferon treatment were nearly identical during the first five years following diagnosis. Thereafter, the cumulative survival rate for patients without interferon treatment declined, resulting in the eight-year survival rate being higher for interferon-treated patients than for those without interferon treatment. The cumulative survival rate in transient responders was almost equal to that in sustained responders. It was significantly lower in non-responders and those not receiving interferon treatment than in sustained or transient responders. No sustained responder or transient responder in the group of interferon treated chronic hepatitis C patients died of liver-related disease. Interferon treatment was demonstrated to lower the incidence of HCC and improve long-term survival rates among patients with chronic hepatitis C, for whom interferon was effective in normalizing ALT, even when HCV was not eradicated. |
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