ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Chronic hepatitis C is one of the main causes of cirrhosis of the liver. Treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) improves survival. There is controversy as to whether AADs create an increased risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to determine the risk factors for developing HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with DAAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort study was conducted, within the time frame of June 2017 and June 2018, on patients >18 years of age, with chronic hepatitis C, genotypes 1 and 4, with one year of follow-up, to evaluate the presence of HCC. RESULTS: We analyzed 108 patients, 71 (65%) of whom were women. Mean patient age was 56.24 years (±10.6), 1b was the most frequent genotype (63%), and 49% of the patients received treatment with DAAs (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir). Thirty-four (31%) patients were obese. Fifty-three percent (58) had cirrhosis and 82% (89) had Child-Pugh class A liver function. Sustained virologic response at 12 weeks was 100%. Eight (7%) patients developed HCC and 1b was the most frequently associated genotype (87%). The presence of regenerative nodules >10â¯mm (Pâ¯<â¯.05), esophageal varices (Pâ¯<â¯.05), cirrhosis of the liver (Pâ¯<â¯.05), Child-Pugh B-C (Pâ¯<â¯.05), and alpha-fetoprotein >20 IU/mL (Pâ¯=â¯0.20) one year after treatment were associated with the development of HCC. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for developing HCC were the presence of cirrhosis of the liver, Child-Pugh class B liver function, esophageal and/or gastric varices, and genotype 1b.
