Baseline Viral Load and On-Treatment Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Multinational Cohort Study
Won‐Mook Choi, Terry Cheuk‐Fung Yip, Grace Lai‐Hung Wong, W. Ray Kim, Leland J. Yee, C. Brooks-Rooney, Tristan Curteis, Laura J. Clark, Zarena Jafry, Chien‐Hung Chen, Chi-Yi Chen, Yi‐Hsiang Huang, Young‐Joo Jin, Dae Won Jun, Jin‐Wook Kim, Neung Hwa Park, Cheng‐Yuan Peng, Hyun Phil Shin, Jung Woo Shin, Yao‐Hsu Yang, Young‐Suk Lim
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk persists in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) despite antiviral therapy. The relationship between pre-treatment baseline hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load and HCC risk during antiviral treatment remains uncertain. METHODS: IU/mL) who initiated entecavir or tenofovir treatment. The primary outcome was on-treatment HCC incidence, stratified by baseline HBV viral load as a categorical variable. RESULTS: IU/mL, who exhibited the lowest HCC risk. CONCLUSION: Baseline viral load showed a significant, non-linear, parabolic association with HCC risk during antiviral treatment in noncirrhotic patients with CHB. Early initiation of antiviral treatment based on HBV viral load may help prevent irreversible HCC risk accumulation in patients with CHB.