Table 1.
Demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters of the study groups; normal, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
| Variables | Control N = 20 |
CHC N = 50 |
HCC N = 50 |
*P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (Mean ± SD) | 34.1 ± 9.74 | 55.04 ± 9.58 | 58.8 ± 9.66 | 0.14 |
| Sex | ||||
| Male: n = 69 | 8 | 30 | 31 | |
| Female: n = 51 | 12 | 20 | 19 | |
| M:F ratio | 01:00.6 | 01:01.5 | 01:01.6 | 0.838 |
| Obesity N(%) | 8 (40%) | 22 (44%) | 20 (40%) | 0.685 |
| LFT | ||||
| Median (Range) | ||||
| ALT (IU/L) | 29 (20-41) | 60 (25-210) | 64(34-103) | 0.09 |
| AST (IU/L) | 31 (18-40) | 60 (25-180) | 120 (65-310) | <0.001 |
| T. Bil (mg/dL) | 0.8 (0.4-1) | 1 (0.5-3.6) | 2.2 (1.2-6) | <0.001 |
| Albumin (g/dL) | 3.9 (3.5-4.7) | 3.6(1.9-4.2) | 3 (1.6-3.4) | <0.001 |
| INR | 0.8 (0.7-0.9) | 1.1(0.7-1.5) | 1.2(1.1-1.5) | <0.001 |
| GGT (IU/L) | 29 (12-46) | 56.5 (15-105) | 190 (60-560) | <0.001 |
| Biochemical tests | ||||
| Median(range), | ||||
| Fasting Glu (mg/dL) | 99(80-142) | 170(100-230) | 188(76-890) | 0.81 |
| Fasting Ins (IU/mL) | 3.6(2-5.3) | 8(3.5-13.0) | 9(3.6-15) | 0.178 |
| HbA1c (% ) | 4.2(2.7-6) | 7(3.2-11.0) | 8(4.2-13) | 0.053 |
| HOMA-IR | 0.87(0.42-1.49) | 3.42 (0.86-7.06) | 4.18 (0.91-32.22) | 0.643 |
| Plt (x109/L) | 300(152-465) | 150(102-300) | 130(50-170) | <0.001 |
| Cholesterol (mg/dL) | 157(120-247) | 190(160-270) | 190(110-300) | 0.954 |
| TG (mg/dL) | 153(125-254) | 190(87-300) | 190(120-300) | 0.999 |
| Serum AFP (ng/mL) | 6 (2.9-10) | 30 (5-125) | 225 (150-1060) | <0.001 |
| HCV RNA | ||||
| (viral load copies/IU/L) N(%) | no viremia | |||
| Low** (n = 21) | ||||
| Moderate (n = 56) | 19(38) | 2(4) | <0.001 | |
| High (n = 23) | 21(42) | 35(70) | ||
| Stage of Fibrosis N(%) | 10(20) | 13(26) | ||
| I+II (n = 17) | 16 (32) | 1(2) | <0.001 | |
| III+IV+ V (n = 83) | 34 (68) | 49(98) |
Data are median (range), frequency (%); obesity defined as BMI>25; *P value: comparison between CHC and HCC patients. LFT, Liver function tests, ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; INR, International normalization ratio (for blood clotting); GGT, gammaglutamyl transferase; Glu, glucose; Ins, insulin; HbA1c, glycosylated hemoglobin; HOMA-IR, Homeostasis Model for assessment of insulin resistance; Plt, platelet count; TG, triglycerides; AFP, alpha fetoprotein; **Viral load (copies/IU/L): Low (<100 × 103), Moderate (100-1000 × 103), High (>1000 × 103)