Low‐level viremia and the increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients receiving entecavir treatment

• DOI: 10.1002/hep.28916
• Publication Date: 2016-11-05T08:16:44Z
• Authors: Jung Hee Kim; Dong Hyun Sinn; Wonseok Kang; Geum‐Youn Gwak; Yong‐Han Paik; Moon Seok Choi; Joon Hyeok Lee; Kwang Cheol Koh; Seung Woon Paik
• Keywords: Entecavir; Viremia; Hepatitis B

The long‐term clinical impact of low‐level viremia (LLV; <2,000 IU/mL) is not well understood. As a result, it unclear whether the development LLV during entecavir monotherapy requires change in therapy. A retrospective cohort 875 treatment‐naive chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) monoinfected patients (mean age 47.7 years, male = 564 [65.5%], cirrhosis 443 [50.6%]) who received were analyzed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC risk was compared between maintained virological response (MVR), defined by persistently undetectable HBV DNA (<12 IU/mL), and experienced LLV, either persistent or intermittent episodes IU/mL detectable DNA. During median 4.5 years follow‐up (range 1.0‐8.7 years), diagnosed 85 (9.7%). developed more frequently than MVR (14.3% versus 7.5% at 5 P 0.015). hazard ratio comparing those with to 1.98 (95% confidence interval 1.28‐3.06, 0.002, adjusted age, sex, e antigen, baseline levels, cirrhosis). Among cirrhosis, exhibited significantly higher (HCC incidence rate 23.4% 10.3%, 2.20, 95% 1.34‐3.60; 0.002). However, without there no significant difference MVR. Conclusion : observed associated HCC, especially indicating that potent antiviral therapy consequential. (H epatology 2017;66:335–343).