Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after directly acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C: a 2-year follow-up study

Aim of the study
Data regarding hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after directly acting antivirals for hepatitis C are contradictory. Our aim was to study the HCC recurrence in patients who received directly acting antivirals after tumor ablation.

Material and methods
This retrospective study included all Child-Pugh A and B patients with hepatitis C related < 5 cm single or up to 3 HCC without any vascular or extrahepatic involvement whose lesions were managed using microwave or radiofrequency ablation at the Internal Medicine Department of Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, in the period from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016, and then received directly acting antivirals.

Results
Data from 52 patients were analyzed. Throughout the 2 years from ablation, 42.3% of patients experienced tumor recurrence (22 out of 52 patients). In addition, two subjects died and 4 subjects were lost to follow-up before any tumor recurrence.

Conclusions
Although our study included both modified Child-Pugh A and B patients and included lesions up to 5 cm treated using thermal ablation, the 2-year HCC recurrence rate was similar to that previously reported after surgical resection or radiofrequency ablation of lesions up to 3 cm in Child-Pugh A patients before development of directly acting antivirals.