Ceruloplasmin, a reliable marker of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B virus patients with normal or minimally raised alanine aminotransferase

Table 3 Variables associated with the presence of cirrhosis (F4) in the training group

Variable	≤F3	≥F4	P value
Age, in yr	38.9 ± 8.9	37.6 ± 12.6	0.632
Male sex, in %	70.37%	77.41%	0.255
TB, in μmol/L	11.1 (8.6-17.5)	13.5 (10.1-15.8)	0.429
Albumin, in g/L	42.8 ± 3.7	40.5 ± 4.5	0.039
Globulin, in g/L	27.4 ± 5.1	28.2 ± 3.2	0.590
ALT, in IU/L	34 (26-46)	44.5 (24.3-56.8)	0.281
AST, in IU/L	29 (24-37)	32.5 (29.5-44.0)	0.064
ALP, in IU/L	69 (58-83)	70 (61-93)	0.528
GGT, in IU/L	24 (17-34)	55 (33.5-79.3)	< 0.001
TBA, in mmol/L	6.3 (4.1-14.6)	9.8 (4.7-20.6)	0.216
CHE, in IU/L	8669.1 ± 2421.8	6760.2 ± 1737.5	0.006
PT, in s	12.4 (11.9-12.9)	13.5 (12.4-14.5)	0.011
INR	1.03 (0.98-1.08)	1.12 (1.02-1.20)	0.019
WBC, in 109/L	5.69 ± 1.54	5.49 ± 1.60	0.649
PLT, in 109/L	183 (163-218)	155 (131-175)	0.002
AFP, in ng/mL	2.9 (2.1-5.0)	10.75 (5.10-28.45)	< 0.001
HBsAg levels, in logIU/mL	3.44 (3.05-4.0)	3.49 (3.39-3.67)	0.910
HBV DNA levels, in logIU/mL	5.26 ± 1.69	5.57 ± 1.56	0.515
CP, in mg/L	201.9 ± 34.6	167.0 ± 24.9	< 0.001

AFP: α-fetoprotein; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; CHE: Cholinesterase; CP: Ceruloplasmin; GGT: Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; PLT: Platelet count; PT: Prothrombin time; TBA: Total bile acid; WBC: White blood cell count.