Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease affects the development of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background: Despite the high success rate of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) persists in some patients. Cardiometabolic factors, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have been reported as risk factors for de novo HCC after SVR. However, the impact of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) on HCC development after SVR, particularly in Japanese patients, remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 512 HCV-infected patients who achieved SVR following DAA therapy were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory data at 24 weeks after the end of therapy (SVR24) were assessed to determine the impact of MASLD on the development of HCC. Risk factors for HCC occurrence were analyzed using the Fine and Gray subdistribution hazard model.

Results: During a median follow-up of 56 months, HCC developed in 33 patients (6.4%). Patients with MASLD at SVR24 had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of HCC than those without MASLD (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified MASLD, age, male, albumin-bilirubin-platelets (aMAP) score, and FibroScan-AST (FAST) score at SVR24 as independent risk factors for HCC development. Both aMAP and FAST scores were positively correlated with the number of cardiometabolic risk factors.

Conclusions: MASLD is a significant determinant of post-SVR HCC risk among Japanese patients. Risk stratification incorporating MASLD, aMAP, and FAST scores may contribute to the development of optimized, patient-tailored HCC surveillance strategies and improve long-term outcomes in the Japanese clinical setting.