Production and activity of matrix metalloproteinases during liver fibrosis progression of chronic hepatitis C patients

Table 1 Demographic and clinical data of chronic hepatitis C patients compared with healthy individuals

	CHC, n = 119	CT, n = 119	P value
Sex, n (%)			< 0.001
Men	53 (45)	75 (63)
Women	66 (55)	44 (37)
Age in yr	54 ± 13	37 ± 10	< 0.001
BMI in kg/m2	27 ± 1	28 ± 1	0.340
Hb in g/dL	14 ± 2	16 ± 1	< 0.001
Leu as 103/µL	5.1 ± 1.0	7.4 ± 0.2	< 0.001
Platelets as × 103	177 ± 78	272 ± 62	< 0.001
Total bilirubin in mg/dL	2.52 ± 1.70	0.75 ± 0.29	0.001
Direct bilirubin in mg/dL	0.18 ± 0.15	0.07 ± 0.06	0.001
AST in UI/L	60 ± 5	30 ± 11	< 0.001
ALT in UI/L	63 ± 5	26 ± 18	< 0.001
GGT in UI/L	92.50 ± 10.67	30.55 ± 2.43	< 0.001

Data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; BMI: Body mass index; CHC: Chronic hepatitis C; CT: Control; GGT: Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase; Hb: Hemoglobin; Leu: Leukocytes.