Abstract |
We report here two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 90 and 70 months, respectively, after successful treatment with interferon (IFN) and ribavirin for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. A 50-year-old Caucasian man and a 66-year-old Caucasian woman with HCV-related cirrhosis were treated with IFN and ribavirin and in both cases a sustained virological response (SVR) was obtained with persistent normalization of serum aminotransferases and continuous disappearance of serum HCV- RNA. Both patients were subsequently followed up within an HCC surveillance programme based on biochemical and ultrasound (US) evaluation every 6 months and the appearance of HCC was detected 90 and 70 months, respectively, after discontinuation of therapy. We introduce these two cases to call attention to the importance of not underestimating the risk of HCC development even many years after complete HCV eradication, especially in the presence of established cirrhosis and concomitance of other risk factors for HCC.
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Authors | Ranka Vukotic, Annagiulia Gramenzi, Giovanni Vitale, Carmela Cursaro, Carla Serra, Maurizio Biselli, Alessandra Scuteri, Pietro Andreone, Mauro Bernardi |
Journal | Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
(Liver Int)
Vol. 28
Issue 3
Pg. 407-11
(Mar 2008)
ISSN: 1478-3231 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 17900241
(Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antiviral Agents
- Ribavirin
- Interferons
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Topics |
- Aged
- Antiviral Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
(etiology, pathology)
- Female
- Hepatitis C, Chronic
(complications)
- Humans
- Interferons
(therapeutic use)
- Liver Cirrhosis
(drug therapy, etiology, virology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Ribavirin
(therapeutic use)
- Time Factors
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