Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus Is Associated With Reduction in Hematologic Malignancies: Major Differences Between Interferon and Direct-Acting Antivirals.

ABSTRACT: It is unclear whether eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to a reduction in the risk of hematologic malignancies. We aimed to determine the impact of sustained virologic response (SVR) induced by either direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) or interferon (IFN) on the risk of hematologic malignancies. We identified 69,581 patients who initiated antiviral treatment in the Veterans Affairs national health care system from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2015, including 40,410 (58%) IFN-only regimens, 4,546 (6.5%) DAA + IFN regimens, and 24,625 (35%) DAA-only regimens. We retrospectively followed patients to identify incident cases of hematologic malignancies or monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS), a premalignant precursor of multiple myeloma. Among patients treated with I

SUBMITTER: Ioannou GN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6671776 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature