Alkaline phosphatase predicts relapse in chronic hepatitis C patients with end-of-treatment response

Table 1 Clinical and biochemical characteristics of the patients prior to therapy

	SVR (n = 60)	Relapse (n = 26)	P-value
Age (yr)	41.3 ± 11.3	45.4 ± 10.9	NS
Male/female	43/17	19/7	NS
Body mass index (kg/m2)	24.9 ± 4.0	28.7 ± 5.5	< 0.010
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	119 ± 14	119 ± 12	NS
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)	73 ± 10	75 ± 10	NS
Genotype 1, n (%)	35 (58.3)	17 (65.4)	NS
HCV-RNA prior to therapy (IU/mL)	480 500 (2430-23 000 000)	806 000 (107 000-8 400 000)	< 0.050
PegIFN α2a/PegIFN α2b	32/28	14/12	NS
cEVR, n (%)	58 (96.7)	17 (65.4)	< 0.001
Histological fibrosis stage	1 (0-4)	3 (1-4)	< 0.050
Histological activity	1 (1-3)	2 (1-3)	NS
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L)	40 (15-416)	47.5 (24-156)	NS
Alanine aminotransferase (U/L)	72.5 (17-560)	70 (32-214)	NS
γ-glutamyl transferase (U/L)	39 (3-693)	48 (11-183)	NS
Alkaline phosphatase (U/L)	84 (40-232)	67 (48-129)	< 0.005
Cholinesterase (kU/L)	7.22 ± 2.18	7.50 ± 2.37	NS
Lactate dehydrogenase (U/L)	190 ± 42	193 ± 34	NS
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	0.77 ± 0.57	0.68 ± 0.24	NS
C-reactive protein (mg/dL)	0.2 (0-1.8)	0.1 (0-1.0)	NS
Fibrinogen (mg/dL)	256 ± 52	273 ± 54	NS

SVR: Sustained virological response; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; PegIFN: Pegylated interferon; cEVR: Complete early virological response; NS: Not significant.