Screening of Cirrhotic Compensated Hepatitis C Virus Infected Patients who Received Oral Direct Acting Antiviral Drugs for Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Other Malignancies

Abstract

CV is now recognized as a major factor in the development of severe liver damage as chronic infection is associated with the development of hepatic steatosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed at screening of our patients for the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and other malignancies during or after end of treatment with orally direct acting antiviral drugs to prove or disprove this allegation. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising throughout the world as a consequence of a rising prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and an increase in prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) due to the metabolic syndrome. This rising incidence of HCC in Egypt may be explained by the increasing prevalence of risk factors such as the emergence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) over the same period of time and the contribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The improvements in screening programs and diagnostic tools, as well as the increased survival rate among patients with cirrhosis allowed time for some of them to develop HCC. The main goal of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C treatment is the eradication of the virus, in order to prevent disease progression and its associated complications (e.g., cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma).