Real‐world long‐term analysis of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the long‐term clinical course of patients achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) with daclatasvir plus asunaprevir (DCV/ASV) therapy. METHODS: A total of 911 patients who achieved SVR with DCV/ASV were assessed. To evaluate pretreatment factors contributing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after SVR, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in all patients, in those with preexisting HCC, and in those without preexisting HCC. We selected a low‐risk group of HCC cases after SVR. Finally, we evaluated liver function after achieving SVR. RESULTS: In multivariable analyses, male sex, older age, patients with a history of HCC treatment, excess alcohol use, lower albumin, and low platelet count remained significant in the overall group; male sex and low albumin remained significant in patients with a history of HCC treatment; and male sex, older age, excess alcohol use, low platelet count, high alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), and high des‐γ‐carboxy prothrombin (DCP) remained significant in those without a history of HCC treatment. Patients who had not received treatment for HCC, females, those under 70 years of age, and those with platelet count ≥13 (×10(4)/μL), AFP <6 ng/mL, and DCP <23 mAU/mL were at low risk of HCC. The process of liver function improvement was different according to the factors. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of HCC, risk factors associated with HCC, group with very low risk of developing HCC, and the clinical course in a real‐world long‐term study were evaluated.