The treatment choices and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma in hemophilic patients with human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV) coinfection due to contaminated blood products in Japan.

BACKGROUND

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection through unheated blood product for hemophilia caused in early 1980s has been significantly serious problem in Japan. After the development of HIV treatment in 1990s, HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been one of the most significant problem in these population. Treatment choices for HCC might be limited in hemophilia patients because of their bleeding tendency. The aim of this study was to elucidate the treatment choices and outcome of HCC in hemophilic patients coinfected with HIV/HCV due to contaminated blood products.

METHODS

We asked 444 Japanese centers that specialize in treating HIV patients for participation, whether they have HIV/HCV coinfected cases with HCC, and the patient characteristics, treatments for HCC and survival after treatments were retrospectively reviewed according to each institutional medical records.

RESULTS

Of 444 centers, 139 centers (31%) responded to the first query, and 8 centers (1.8%) ultimately provided 26 cases of HCC in coinfected hemophilic patients, diagnosed between December 1999 and December 2017. All 26 were male hemophilic patients, with a median age at HCC diagnosis of 49 (range, 34-73) years. Thirteen cases (50%) were HCV-RNA positive, and 14 cases (54%) had a solitary tumor. Even in the cases of Child-Pugh grade A, only 1 case underwent resection, and 18 cases (69%) did not receive the standard treatment recommended by the Japanese Society of Hepatology.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemophilic HCC patients with HIV/HCV coinfection may not routinely receive standard treatment due to their bleeding tendency and several complications related to HIV/HCV coinfection.