Effect of interferon therapy on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis: a meta-analysis.

Citation
Gv. Papatheodoridis et al., Effect of interferon therapy on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis: a meta-analysis., ALIM PHARM, 15(5), 2001, pp. 689-698
Citations number
33
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology,"da verificare
Journal title
ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
ISSN journal
0269-2813 → ACNP
Volume
15
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
689 - 698
Database
ISI
SICI code
0269-2813(200105)15:5<689:EOITOT>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
Background: The role of interferon in the prevention of hepatocellular carc inoma remains controversial. Aim: In this meta-analysis we evaluated the hepatocellular carcinoma incide nce in interferon-treated and -untreated patients with hepatitis C virus-re lated cirrhosis. Methods: Eleven studies with 2178 patients were found to fulfil our inclusi on criteria, The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) w ere calculated from the raw study data. Results: Hepatocellular carcinoma development was significantly more freque nt in untreated (21.5%) than in interferon-treated patients (8.2%; OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 2.3-3.9). In the five studies reporting hepatocellular carcinoma i ncidence in patients with and without sustained response to interferon, hep atocellular carcinoma was detected at a much higher rate in patients withou t (9%) than with a sustained response (0.9%; OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.7-7.8). Mor eover, hepatocellular carcinoma developed significantly more frequently in the untreated patients than in the non-sustained responders (OR: 2.7, 95% C I: 1.9-3.9). The benefit from interferon on hepatocellular carcinoma incide nce was not influenced by the study type (prospective or retrospective), th e follow-up duration, or the study origin. Conclusions: Interferon therapy significantly reduces the hepatocellular ca rcinoma risk in patients with hepatitis C virus cirrhosis. Hepatocellular c arcinoma development becomes almost negligible among sustained responders, but a reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma incidence is also achieved even in the non-sustained responders.