Abstract
Background/aim: Liver injury has been frequently reported in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but data are still lacking regarding the impact of pre-existing liver damage and neoplasia on SARS-CoV-2 infection outcome and vice-versa. This study aimed to assess the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients, both in therapeutic-naïve and patients treated with direct acting antivirals.
Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 21 patients with a personal history of HCV infection, that have been diagnosed with different forms of HCC and who were subsequently infected with SARS-CoV-2. Patients were monitored by liver function tests, tumoral markers, blood cell count, and coagulation profile periodically.
Results: Solitary HCC nodules were predominant among the subjects who achieved sustained virologic response, while multinodular and infiltrative patterns were mostly prevalent among the treatment-naïve group. Most patients had mild and moderate COVID-19 infections.
Conclusion: Within the current global pandemic crisis, cancer patients are highly vulnerable and in need of constant monitoring. Among patients with HCC, the ones with cured HCV infection may be at a lower risk of fatality than those with active HCV infection, when diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; direct-acting antivirals; hepatitis C virus infection; hepatocellular carcinoma.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C virus infection, hepatocellular carcinoma., 【초록키워드】 antivirals, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, outcome, HCV, Moderate COVID-19, Coagulation, global pandemic, infections, hepatitis C virus, Patient, Cancer patients, hepatitis C, liver function tests, Liver injury, Mild, virus infection, association, fatality, Liver damage, HCC, Injury, Direct-acting antivirals, blood cell count, Hepatocellular carcinoma, cancer patient, blood cell, chronic hepatitis, personal history, retrospective cohort study, infected patients, subject, Most patients, COVID-19 infections, lower risk, neoplasia, nodule, direct-acting, vice, Effect, Direct, prevalent, reported, diagnosed, form, Most patient, conducted, predominant, cured, sustained, acting, infected with SARS-CoV-2, infiltrative, patients treated, patients with HCC, 【제목키워드】 Impact, chronic, carcinoma,