Risk Factors and Hepatocellular Cancer Screening After Hepatitis C Virus Eradication

Abstract

Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) usually develops against the background of chronic liver disease. Until recently, the most common etiology of HCC was infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The appearance of direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAD) has become a big breakthrough in the treatment of HCV infection. A stable virological response can now be achieved in almost all treated patients, even in people at high risk of HCC, primarily with cirrhosis of the liver. At the same time, reports gradually began to accumulate about the continued risk of malignant transformation after successful therapy of DAAD. Simultaneously with the decrease in the burden of cirrhosis caused by HCV, the etiological role of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has sharply increased. Moreover, in a significant part of patients with NAFLD, HCC is formed at the pre-cirrhotic stage. These changes in the etiology and epidemiology of HCC suggest the revision of patient management tactics