Alpha-fetoprotein and des-gamma-carboxy-prothrombin at twenty-four weeks after interferon-based therapy predict hepatocellular carcinoma development

Table 1 Pretreatment clinical characteristics of 231 hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis patients treated with interferon and ribavirin

	All patients (n = 231)	Non HCC (n = 181)	HCC (n = 50)	P-value1
Sex (M:F)	111:120	82:99	29:21	NS
Age (yr)	60.4 ± 9.2	59.6 ± 9.2	63.1 ± 9.1	0.018
BMI (kg/m2)	23.7 ± 3.4	23.7 ± 3.5	23.9 ± 2.9	NS
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	1.1 ± 1.2	1.2 ± 1.4	0.9 ± 0.3	NS
Albumin (g/dL)	3.8 ± 0.5	3.8 ± 0.5	3.8 ± 0.3	NS
Prothrombin (%)	86.1 ± 15.2	86.1 ± 15.8	86.1 ± 13.2	NS
ALT (IU/L)	84.6 ± 64.4	86.6 ± 65.8	77.1 ± 59.6	NS
GGT (IU/L)	89.0 ± 124.0	89.0 ± 125.2	89.3 ± 122.1	NS
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	13.2 ± 1.8	13.1 ± 1.9	13.5 ± 1.7	NS
Platelets (104/mm3)	12.1 ± 6.8	12.2 ± 7.2	11.7 ± 5.1	NS
AFP (ng/mL)	94.1 ± 916.1	24.2 ± 38.0	355.1 ± 1994.9	0.038
DCP (mAU/mL)	261.5 ± 2687.8	328.6 ± 3057.3	26.5 ± 18.1	NS
IL28B (TT:non TT)	161:70	130:51	31:19	NS
Presence of EV	74/191 (38.7%)	60/146 (41.1%)	14/45 (31.1%)	NS
HCC treatment history	80 (34.6%)	44 (24.3%)	36 (72.0%)	NS
HCV genotype (1/2)	189:42	147:34	42:8	NS
IFN treatment (naive)	208 (90.0%)	162 (89.5%)	46 (92%)	NS

Data are expressed as number (%) or mean ± SD. All demographic and clinical data are those at the start of antiviral treatment.

¹Comparison between non HCC and HCC. HCV: Hepatitis C virus; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; NS: Not significant; BMI: Body mass index; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; DCP: Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin; IL28B: Interleukin 28B rs8099917; EV: Esophageal varices; IFN: Interferon.