Risk Factors Associated With Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Hepatitis C Virus Patients

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, with an estimated global HCV prevalence of 1.0%. Chronic HCV infection can progress to liver fibrosis and then cirrhosis with decompensation events and even hepatocellular carcinoma. It has been reported that about 1% of patients with chronic HCV infection without liver fibrosis will develop hepatocellular carcinoma within 5 years, and approximately 13% of those with cirrhosis. Undoubtedly, it is a global health problem. As known, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, in which there should be a 90% reduction in incident cases with HCV infection. At present, owing to the invention and widespread use of direct-acting antiviral therapy, nearly all patients with chronic HCV infection can achieve sustained viral response. Despite so, there are still a high proportion of patients who neither know their diagnosis of HCV nor receive effective antiviral treatment. Herein, this book project will aim to be launched to collect a series of high-quality papers to expand our recent knowledge about the management of HCV infection, which will help achieve the ambitious WHO target. BT - Hepatitis C - Recent Advances