TABLE 1.
Characteristics of the patients
| Parameter (unit) | Valuea for patients with:
|
P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occult HCV (n = 50) | Chronic hepatitis C (n = 141) | Cryptogenic liver disease (n = 21) | ||
| Age (yr) | 46.4 (43.0-49.8) | 47.0 (44.9-49.0) | 45.3 (32.7-47.9) | 0.33 |
| Gender (no. male/no. female) | 39/11 | 90/51 | 15/6 | 0.17 |
| Duration of disease (yr)b | 7.2 (3.6-10.8) | 7.4 (5.9-8.9) | 5.3 (4.1-6.5) | 0.070 |
| Alanine aminotransferase (IU/liter) | 70 (49-92) | 109 (93-125) | 69 (58-79) | <0.001 |
| Aspartate transaminase (IU/liter) | 40 (35-46) | 72 (61-83) | 45 (35-48) | <0.001 |
| Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (IU/liter) | 106 (81-131) | 67 (49-74) | 84 (70-99) | 0.089 |
| No. (%) with: | ||||
| Necroinflammation | 18 (36) | 141 (100) | 5 (24) | <0.001 |
| Fibrosis | 10 (20) | 110 (78) | 6 (29) | <0.001 |
| Cirrhosis | 2 (4) | 12 (9) | 2 (10) | 0.55 |
| Steatosis | 10 (20) | 14 (10) | 11 (52) | 0.065 |
a
Except as indicated, values are means and 95% confidence intervals.
b
Estimated duration of abnormal liver function tests since first alteration was detected.