Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients studied.

Age (y)	42 (9.7)
Sex
Male	77 (56.2%)
Female	60 (43.8%)
ALT (U/l)	117.2 (81.6)
HCV
Genotype
1	103 (75.2%)
Non‐1	34 (24.8%)
Low viral load (<5×105 IU/ml)	52 (37.9%)
High viral load (⩾5×105 IU/ml)	85 (62.1%)
Grade score (Ishak)
0–6	78 (56.9%)
7–14	59 (43.1%)
Stage score (Ishak)
0–3	106 (77.3%)
4–6	31 (22.7%)

Data are n (%) or mean (SD).

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; HCV, hepatitis C virus;