The incidence and risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma after peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: Although the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been shown to be reduced after pegylated glycol-interferon plus ribavirin (Peg-IFN/RBV) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the risk factors for the development of HCC are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to clarify the incidence and the risk factors for the development of HCC after Peg-IFN/RBV therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methodology: A total of 474 patients with chronic hepatitis C who received Peg-IFN/RBV therapy between December 2004 and August 2010 were enrolled and followed in a multicenter trial.