• J Formos Med Assoc · Feb 2025

    High-normal and abnormal alanine transaminase levels linked to increased risk of hepatoma following treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

    • Yen-Chun Chen, Pei-Chien Tsai, Chung-Feng Huang, Chi-Yi Chen, Chao-Hung Hung, Chien-Hung Chen, Chi-Ming Tai, Pin-Nan Cheng, Hsing Tao Kuo, Lein-Ray Mo, Ching Chu Lo, Yi-Hsiang Huang, Han-Chieh Lin, Pei-Lun Lee, Ming-Jong Bair, Te-Sheng Chang, Chun-Yen Lin, Szu-Jen Wang, Tsai-Yuan Hsieh, Tzeng-Hue Yang, Cheng-Yuan Peng, Chi-Chieh Yang, Lee-Won Chong, Chien-Wei Huang, Chih-Wen Lin, Cheng-Hsin Chu, Ming-Chang Tsai, Jia-Horng Kao, Chun-Jen Liu, Wan-Long Chuang, Kuo-Chih Tseng, Ming-Lung Yu, and TACR investigators.
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Tzuchi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
    • J Formos Med Assoc. 2025 Feb 6.

    Background/PurposeThe risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. The association between HCC and ALT levels after interferon (IFN) or direct-acting antivirals (DAA) therapy is unclear.MethodsPatients with CHC receiving antiviral therapy were included in two large-scale cohorts in Taiwan (T-COACH and TACR). Posttreatment ALT levels were assessed at 24-weeks/12-weeks after the end-of-treatment with IFN/DAA. HCC risk after antiviral therapy were identified for evaluation.ResultsOf 29,926 CHC patients enrolled in the study, 64%, 22.5%, and 13.5% had posttreatment healthy-normal (female, ≤19 U/L; male ≤30 U/L), high-normal (female, 19-40 U/L; male, 30-40 U/L), and abnormal (>40 U/L) ALT levels, respectively. During a median follow-up of 2.4 years, 1245 patients developed HCC. The 5-year cumulative HCC incidence was 11.2% and 5.2% in the abnormal and high-normal ALT groups, respectively, compared to 2.7% in the healthy ALT group. In Cox regression analysis, factors associated with a higher HCC risk were advanced fibrosis, abnormal and high-normal posttreatment ALT levels, cirrhosis, and old age; whereas a sustained virological response (SVR) was associated with a lower HCC risk. The aforementioned impacts of abnormal and high-normal posttreatment ALT levels were observed across the SVR, non-SVR, and non-cirrhotic subgroups.ConclusionPatients with CHC with high-normal and abnormal posttreatment ALT levels have an increased risk of HCC; thus, HCC surveillance is still necessary in this population.Copyright © 2025 Formosan Medical Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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