In conclusion, this study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to focus on lncRNAs as potential biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma risk in chronic hepatitis C. The results revealed that plasmatic lncRNAs HULC and RP11-731F5.2 are potential biomarkers of HCC risk, and RP11-731F5.2 and KCNQ1OT1 are possible noninvasive biomarkers of liver damage due to HCV infection. Here, KCNQ1OT1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.