Development of risky varices in alcoholic cirrhosis with a well-maintained nutritional status

Table 1 Characteristics of enrolled patients with alcoholic compensated cirrhosis or hepatitis C virus-related compensated cirrhosis

Age (yr)	66.0 ± 11.5
Gender (male/female)	18/3
Child-Pugh score	5.4 ± 0.5
AST (IU/L)	43 (16-99)
ALT (IU/L)	26 (10-86)
γ-GTP (IU/L)	41 (12-821)
ALP (IU/L)	289 (191-726)
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	1.1 ± 0.5
ALB (g/dL)	3.6 ± 0.3
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	11.4 ± 1.7
Platelet count (× 103/μL)	110 ± 68
Prothrombin time (%)	83.3 ± 9.1
BCAA treatment (present/absent)	9/12

Quantitative variables were expressed as the mean ± SD or median (range). BCAA: Branched-chain amino acids; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferases; γ-GTP: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; ALB: Albumin; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase.

Table 2 Comparison of the general clinical characteristics between patients with alcoholic compensated cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus-related compensated cirrhosis

	Alcoholic cirrhosis(n = 7)	HCV-relatedcirrhosis (n = 14)	P value
Age (yr)	63.7 ± 6.8	67.2 ± 13.2	NS
Gender (male/female)	6/1	12/2	NS
Child-Pugh score	5.3 ± 0.5	5.4 ± 0.9	NS
AST (IU/L)	30 (16-99)	47.5 (27-68)	NS
ALT (IU/L)	24 (10-36)	35.5 (18-86)	NS
γ-GTP (IU/L)	113 (24-821)	29.5 (12-159)	< 0.01
ALP (IU/L)	311 (205-726)	281 (191-462)	NS
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	1.2 ± 0.3	1.0 ± 0.3	NS
ALB (g/dL)	3.7 ± 0.3	3.6 ± 0.3	NS
Prothrombin time (%)	84.5 ± 9.6	82.7 ± 9.1	NS
Platelet (× 103/μL)	104 ± 51	112 ± 77	NS
BCAA treatment (+/-)	4/3	5/9	NS

BCAA: Branched-chain amino acids; NS: Not significant; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferases; γ-GTP: γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; ALB: Albumin; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase.

Table 3 Comparison of nutritional variables between patients with alcoholic compensated cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus-related compensated cirrhosis

	Alcoholic cirrhosis(n = 7)	HCV-related cirrhosis(n = 14)	P value
BMI	25.0 ± 5.8	22.7 ± 3.1	NS
%AMC	102.4 ± 2.3	105.0 ± 12.0	NS
%TSF	142.7 ± 44.3	190.5 ± 75.2	NS
REE/BMR	1.06 ± 0.13	1.02 ± 0.13	NS
FPG (mg/dL)	124 ± 56	105 ± 16	NS
IRI (μU/mL)	9.1 ± 2.6	13.8 ± 8.2	NS
HOMA-IR	2.8 ± 1.7	3.7 ± 2.5	NS
Pre-ALB (mg/dL)	16.3 ± 7.2	9.7 ± 2.7	< 0.01
RBP (mg/dL)	2.4 ± 1.3	1.4 ± 0.3	< 0.05

BMI: Body mass index; AMC: Arm-muscle circumference; TSF: Triceps skinfold thickness; REE/BMR: Resting energy expenditure/basal metabolic rate; FPG: Fasting plasma glucose; Pre-ALB: Pre-albumin; RBP: Retinol-binding protein; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; IRI: Immunoreactive insulin; HOMA-IR: Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance.