Liver‐related complications before and after successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in people with inherited bleeding disorders

INTRODUCTION: With availability of direct‐acting antivirals (DAA), most persons with inherited bleeding disorders are currently cured of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The risk of liver‐related complications following HCV cure has not been reported for this population. AIM: Reporting liver‐related complications during long‐term chronic HCV infection and following sustained virological response (SVR) in this population. METHODS: Retrospective follow‐up of a prospective single‐centre cohort of HCV antibody‐positive persons with inherited bleeding disorders. Primary endpoint was liver‐related complications [hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), decompensated cirrhosis, bleeding gastroesophageal varices]. Liver‐related complications were reported separately during chronic HCV and following SVR, stratified for interferon‐based and DAA‐based SVR. RESULTS: In total 309/381 (81%) HCV antibody‐positive individuals developed chronic HCV infection. Median follow‐up was 44 years [interquartile range (IQR): 34–50]. Liver‐related complications occurred in 36/309 (12%) of individuals with chronic HCV infection after median 31 years of chronic infection. Of 199 individuals with SVR, 97 were cured with interferon‐based regimens and 102 with DAA after median infection durations of 29 and 45 years, respectively. At end of follow‐up, respectively, 21% and 42% had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Post‐SVR, seven (4%) individuals had a liver‐related complication, mainly HCC (n = 4). Incidence of liver‐related complications per 100 patient‐years post‐SVR follow‐up was .2 for interferon‐cured and 1.0 for DAA‐cured individuals (p = .01). CONCLUSION: Successful HCV treatment does not eliminate the risk of liver‐related complications in persons with inherited bleeding disorders. Due to higher baseline risk, incidence was higher after DAA than interferon‐based SVR. We advise continuing HCC surveillance post‐SVR in all with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.