Aim of the study

Identifying persons at increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after exposure to directly acting antivirals (DAAs) is of utmost importance. Our aim was to identify the predictors of de novo HCC occurrence among cirrhotic patients after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment using DAAs.

Material and methods

529 cirrhotic patients who initiated treatment for HCV using DAAs were followed up for 2 years from the end of treatment for development of HCC. Pretreatment clinical and laboratory data were assessed as possible predictors for HCC occurrence. Genotyping for tolloid-like 1 gene (TLL1) variant rs17047200 was assessed in all patients who developed HCC and in the matched control group.

Results

Pretreatment bilirubin, FIB-4 and platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) scores were significantly higher among those who developed HCC than those who did not develop HCC during the 2-year follow-up period while hemoglobin level was significantly lower. ROC curve analysis revealed that at a cut-off ≥ 3.07, pretreatment FIB-4 had a sensitivity of 76.5%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 92%. At a cut-off ≥ –2.5, pretreatment PALBI score had a sensitivity of 82.4%, and NPV of 93.2%. Regarding genotyping for TLL1 rs17047200 there were no statistically significant differences between those who developed HCC during follow-up and the matched control group.

Conclusions

TLL1 rs17047200 genotyping is not helpful in predicting HCC occurrence after DAAs. On the other hand, lower pretreatment hemoglobin level and higher pretreatment bilirubin, FIB-4 and PALBI scores are associated with higher risk of HCC development after DAAs.