Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon (IFN)

The incidence of developing hepatocellular carcinoma were carculated in 371 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN and followed more than 2 years. In complete responders (n=98) and partial responders (n=27), HCC was not detected. But, in non-responders (n=246), HCC was detected in 7 patients (0.79%/Year/Person). According to the staging score in non-responders, the incidence of HCC was 0%/Year/Person in stage 1 (n=120), 0.73%/Year/Person in stage 2 (n=80), 1.95%/Year/Person in stage 3 (n=37) and 4.76%/ Year/Person in stage 4 (n=9). And, not only in complete responsers and partial responders but also in non-responders, the incidence of HCC decreased significantly compared with control group.