Minimal increases of serum alpha‐foetoprotein herald HCC detection in Caucasian HBV cirrhotic patients under long‐term oral therapy

Background & Aims In Caucasian patients with compensated cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developing persist despite long‐term nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUC) treatment. In the surveillance of this population with persistently normal transaminases because of NUCs, the added value of serum alpha‐foetoprotein (AFP) monitoring is poorly defined. Methods Two hundred and fifty‐eight Caucasian...