Demerdash HM, et al. - In this study involving 24 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis, Child–Pugh A, researchers evaluated pretreatment leukocytic DNA telomere length in HCV-related cirrhosis and post viral eradication using direct-acting antiviral (DAAs). In HCV-related cirrhotic patients, DNA telomere length was significantly shorter before treatment compared with 12 weeks after end of treatment. It was also significantly shorter in patients than in healthy individuals before treatment. After DAAs-induced HCV eradication, telomere elongation in blood leukocytes could be considered a marker of recovery of inflammation. Nevertheless, the possibility of cancer initiation activation cannot be ruled out.