Table 1. Baseline characteristics of treatment and control groups.

Covariates	Before propensity matching (n=478)				After propensity matching (n=282)
	Treatment group (n=141)	Control group (n=337)	P		Treatment group (n=141)	Control group (n=141)	P
Gender, male/female (%)	129 (91.5)/12 (8.5)	284 (84.3)/53 (15.7)	0.036		129 (91.5)/12 (8.5)	127 (90.1)/14 (9.9)	0.681
Age (years)	48.94±10.47	49.86±11.95	0.432		48.94±10.47	49.70±12.10	0.574
HBeAg, +/- (%)	15 (10.6)/126 (89.4)	41 (12.2)/296 (87.8)	0.636		15 (10.6)/126 (89.4)	16 (11.3)/125 (88.7)	0.849
HBV-DNA (IU/mL)	1.66×104 (0-1.86×109)	3.74×103 (0-3.18×106)	0.041		1.66×104 (0-1.86×109)	1.08×104(0-3.18×106)	0.321
TBIL (μmol/L)	13.51±5.46	14.10±6.93	0.37		13.51±5.46	13.28±6.77	0.753
DBIL (μmol/L)	4.64±2.22	4.86±3.46	0.413		4.64±2.22	4.52±3.59	0.723
TP (g/L)	69.79±6.32	69.70±6.61	0.819		69.79±6.32	70.17±6.63	0.622
ALB (g/L)	40.42±4.57	40.17±4.81	0.599		40.42±4.57	40.58±5.14	0.779
ALT (U/L)	39 (2-504)	35 (2-341)	0.019		39 (2-504)	42 (9-341)	0.878
AST (U/L)	37 (1-270)	38 (1-410)	0.616		37 (1-270)	39 (17-410)	0.96
PT (s)	13.04±1.51	12.86±1.63	0.254		13.04±1.51	13.02±1.78	0.928
AFP, ≥400 ng/mL/<400 ng/mL (%)	38 (27.0)/103 (73.0)	98 (29.2)/238 (70.8)	0.625		38 (27.0)/103 (73.0)	42 (29.8)/99 (70.2)	0.597
Tumor number, 1/2/3 (%)	102 (72.3)/30 (21.3)/9 (6.4)	240 (71.2)/74 (22.0)/23 (6.8)	0.967		102 (72.3)/30 (21.3)/9 (6.4)	107 (75.8)/28 (19.9)/6 (4.3)	0.674
Size of the largest tumor (cm)	4.5 (0.8-15)	5.5 (1.2-26.0)	0.042		4.5 (0.8-15)	5.0 (1.2-14.9)	0.818
Tumor capsule, complete/incomplete (%)	84 (59.6)/57 (40.4)	163 (48.4)/174 (51.6)	0.025		84 (59.6)/57 (40.4)	80 (56.7)/61 (43.3)	0.629
Liver cirrhosis, yes/no (%)	115 (81.6)/26 (18.4)	267 (79.2)/70 (20.8)	0.562		115 (81.6)/26 (18.4)	115 (81.6)/26 (18.4)	1
BCLC stage, A/B/C (%)	107 (75.9)/23 (16.3)/11 (7.8)	256 (76.2)/60 (17.8)/21 (6.2)	0.781		107 (75.9)/23 (16.3)/11 (7.8)	105 (74.5)/26 (18.4)/10 (7.1)	0.882
Follow-up time (months)	24 (2-65)	24 (0-73)	0.057		24 (2-65)	23 (1-73)	0.184