Interferon Therapy for Hapatitis C Virus (HCV)-related Advanced Chronic Hepatitis after Treatment of Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Successful Case.

Abstract

A complete response was obtained by interferon (IFN) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related advanced chronic hepatitis after curative treatment of initial and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The patient is alive 73 months after diagnosis of initial HCCand is in a tumor-free state 53 months after diagnosis of the last HCC. This case suggest that it is possible to suppress recurrence and to prolong the life of patients with HCV-related advanced chronic hepatitis, if a complete response is obtained by means of IFN therapy after the curative treatment of the recurrent HCC. (Internal Medicine 41 : 202-206, 2002)

Adjuvant Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Treatment

“…The pegylated interferon-ribavirin combination reduced the recurrence rate and prolonged overall survival in patients with chronic hepatitis C after radiofrequency ablation (RFA), especially in patients responding to antiviral treatment [33,34,35,36,37]. At least six RCT and several case-control studies revealed the effectiveness of tertiary prevention of HCC after curative treatment (table 1) [28,38,39,40,41,42,43,44]. The elimination of HCV prevented the progression of cirrhosis, and interferon therapy suppressed HCC recurrence [45].…”

Interferon therapy following treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in an 83-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis

“…However, it was difficult to administer an intravenous drip infusion to the patient because his superficial blood vessels were too thin. We had experience in treating CLC with low viral loads (LVL) using IFN-a2b [13,14], and, considering his age and past history of cerebral hemorrhage, the highest priority was given to the safety of the treatment and avoiding IFN-related major adverse events in determining the protocol. Therefore, for treating the present patient, low-dose IFN-a2b was given over a short time period.…”