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Researchers at Copenhagen
University, Denmark, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials to determine whether antiviral therapy for
treatment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection reduces the risk of
developing hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Researchers performed
electronic searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science
for studies that met their requirements. They performed additional searches,
including scanning reference lists from relevant papers on chronic hepatitis C
and liver cancer, conference proceedings, and the World Health Organization
Trial Search Portal.
Eight randomized trials, and five
prospective cohort studies comparing antiviral therapy (interferon or pegylated
interferon alone or with ribavirin), placebo, or no intervention were analyzed.
The treatment time varied from 1 to 5 years and follow-up ranged from 2 to 8.7
years.
The results indicate that antiviral
therapy may reduce the risk of liver cancer in hepatitis C-related fibrosis and
cirrhosis. The effect may be seen irrespective of the virological response, but
is more pronounced among virological responders compared with non-responders.
The study was reported online in the
journal BMJ Open 2012;2:e001313 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001313.
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dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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