PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - SILVIU GULER-MARGARITIS AU - ADRIANA MERCAN-STANCIU AU - LETITIA TOMA AU - DANIEL RUSIE AU - TEODORA ISAC AU - MIHAI DODOT AU - ANCA ZGURA AU - NICOLAE BACALBASA AU - BOGDAN HAINEALA AU - DUMITRU CRISTINEL BADIU AU - DRAGOS SERBAN AU - ELENA LAURA ILIESCU TI - COVID-19 Mid-term Impact on Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Hepatitis C Chronic Infection AID - 10.21873/invivo.12636 DP - 2021 Nov 01 TA - In Vivo PG - 3377--3383 VI - 35 IP - 6 4099 - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/6/3377.short 4100 - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/6/3377.full SO - In Vivo2021 Nov 01; 35 AB - 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.