Table 3.
Comparison of serotonin levels in platelets of healthy control subjects and patients with chronic HCV.
| n | Mean (SD) | 95% CI (mean) | t-test versus control group | Effect size (d) | 95% CI (d) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control group | 65 | 412 (125) | 381–443 | |||
| Patients total | 64 | 470 (189) | 423–518 | t 108.92 = 2.050, P = 0.043 | 0.362 | 0.014–0.709 |
| Patients (BDI ≤ 10) | 49 | 453 (187) | 399–507 | n.s. (P = 0.187) | 0.240 | −0.052–0.533 |
| Patients (BDI > 10) | 15* | 585 (302) | 424–746 | t 16.79 = 2.164, P = 0.045 | 1.012 | 0.429–1.595 |
| Patients with major/minor depression | 11* | 608 (228) | 435–709 | t 11.34 = 2.585, P = 0.025 | 1.367 | 0.693–2.043 |
Note: the standardized mean-difference effect size (d) was computed from means and standard deviations; platelet-5HT levels are expressed in ng/109 plts.
*Without the extremely high value (outlier) of 1425 ng/109 plts.