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Iliescu et al. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:3 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2017.48

Original Article Open Access

Hepatocellular carcinoma in the setting of interferon-
free treatment for chronic HCV hepatitis - experience

of a single center

Elena Laura Iliescu , Adriana Mercan-Stanciu , Letitia Toma , Elena Simona Ioanitescu , Radu Dumitru ,
1
1
1
2
1
Daniel Rusie 3
1 Department of Internal Medicine II, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest 022328, Romania.
2 Department of Interventional Radiology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest 022328, Romania.
3 Department of General Surgery, Clinical Emergency Hospital, Bucharest 014461, Romania.
Correspondence to: Dr. Elena Laura Iliescu, Department of Internal Medicine II, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest 022328,
Romania. E-mail: laura_ate@yahoo.com
How to cite this article: Iliescu EL, Mercan-Stanciu A, Toma L, Ioanitescu ES, Dumitru R, Rusie D. Hepatocellular carcinoma in the
setting of interferon-free treatment for chronic HCV hepatitis - experience of a single center. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:3.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2017.48

Received: 7 Nov 2017 First Decision: 26 Dec 2017 Revised: 9 Jan 2018 Accepted: 10 Jan 2018 Published: 18 Jan 2018
Science Editor: Guang-Wen Cao Copy Editor: Jun-Yao Li Production Editor: Cai-Hong Wang

Abstract
Aim: This study aims to analyze the particularities of hepatitis C induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), developed
during or after treatment with direct-acting antivirals.

Methods: We conducted an observational prospective study on 278 patients, who underwent treatment for hepatitis C
related liver cirrhosis and respectively for F3 chronic hepatitis C. Liver status was assessed using biological parameters and
imagistic evaluation (ultrasonography, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging).

Results: The follow-up time was 14 months. Before therapy, 69.3% of the cirrhotic patients and 26.7% of those with F3
degree of liver fibrosis had high levels of alpha-fetoprotein, with no imagistic evidence of HCC. During treatment, HCC was
confirmed in 5 patients, 2 of them presenting portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Antiviral therapy was not interrupted. Two
patients developed HCC at the end of treatment, while 4 of them were diagnosed with HCC after three months of ending
the treatment. Excepting the ones with PVT, all patients underwent trans-arterial chemoembolization.

Conclusion: All patients acquired sustained virological response. The screening for HCC should not be stopped after
achievement of sustained virological response. Patients who develop HCC after antiviral treatment often need to be

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
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