Biochemical Rather than Virologic Response to Interferon Therapy may be More Closely Associated with Decrease of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidence in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

• Published in: Gut and liver Vol. 1; no. 1; pp. 49 - 55
• Main Authors: Dan Bi Lee, Young Hwa Chung, Sae Hwan Lee, Yoon Seon Lee, Don Lee, Jeong Eun Hwang, Kang Mo Kim, Young Suk Lim, Han Chu Lee, Eun Sil Yu, Young Sang Lee, Dong Jin Suh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 30.06.2007
• Subjects: Biochemical response; Chronic hepatitis B; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Interferon; Virologic response
• ISSN: 1976-2283

Background/Aims: The authors examined whether the response to interferon (IFN) therapy can affect the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods: Out of 353 biopsy-proven CHB patients, 229 (65%) were treated with IFN-α for 6 to 12 months. They were followed for a median period of 75 months (range, 6-120). In patients treated with IFN, biochemical and virologic responses were evaluated at the end of treatment (EOT). The cumulative incidence rates of HCC were calculated and analyzed in relation to baseline characteristics as well as biochemical and virologic responses to IFN therapy. Results: The overall cumulative incidence of HCC was 0%, 0.8%, 3.7% and 5.5% at 3, 5, 7 and 8 years, respectively. Age, serum AFP levels and the stage of fibrosis were significantly associated with the occurrence of HCC. As a whole, IFN therapy did not affect the occurrence of HCC. Among the patients treated with IFN, biochemical responders had low HCC incidence rates compared with non-responders (p=0.018). However, the HCC incidence rates of virologic responders were not different from non-responders (p=0.203). Conclusions: Biochemical rather than virologic response to IFN therapy may be more closely associated with decrease of HCC incidence in CHB patients. (Gut and Liver 2007;1:49-55)