Abstract
To clarify the effect of interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) on the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 149 patients who were observed over a period of five years (mean: 7.6 years) were studied. The C-1 group, 33 patients with complete response to IFN; the C-2 group, 55 patients with no response to IFN; and the C-3 group, 61 patients who did not receive IFN. The occurrence rate of HCC was 0.9%/year/person. In the C-1, C-2 and C-3 groups, the rates were 0%, 0.3%, and 1.6%, respectively. The rate in C-1 + C-2 groups was significantly lower than that of the C-3 group (P<0.05). These data suggest IFN may suppress the occurrence of HCC in CHC.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Biopsy
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / epidemiology*
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / etiology
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
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Chi-Square Distribution
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Drug Administration Schedule
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
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Hepatitis C, Chronic / pathology
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Humans
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Incidence
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Injections, Intramuscular
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Injections, Intravenous
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Interferon alpha-2
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Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
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Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
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Interferon-beta / administration & dosage
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Interferon-beta / therapeutic use*
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Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology*
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Liver Neoplasms / etiology
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Liver Neoplasms / pathology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Neoplasm Staging
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Recombinant Proteins
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Survival Analysis
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Time Factors
Substances
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Interferon alpha-2
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Interferon-alpha
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Recombinant Proteins
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Interferon-beta