Table 1.
Demographic and laboratory data of 32 patients with CHC
| Variable | Total population (n = 32) | Severe fibrosis (n = 16) | Mild fibrosis (n = 16) | P |
| Age (yr) | 56.47 ± 10.92 | 60.75 ± 6.50 | 52.19 ± 12.85 | 0.024 |
| Sex (male:female) | 15 : 17 | 8 : 8 | 7 : 9 | 0.723 |
| AST (IU/L) | 105.47 ± 56.18 | 119.31 ± 55.75 | 91.63 ± 54.82 | 0.167 |
| ALT (IU/L) | 163.03 ± 102.99 | 167.81 ± 102.15 | 158.25 ± 106.95 | 0.798 |
| Iron (μg/dL) | 155.07 ± 43.27 | 149.50 ± 33.00 | 160.27 ± 51.71 | 0.513 |
| TIBC (μg/dL) | 356.97 ± 48.38 | 351.50 ± 41.23 | 362.07 ± 55.18 | 0.566 |
| Transferrin saturation (%) | 43.63 ± 11.69 | 42.51 ± 7.85 | 44.68 ± 14.62 | 0.621 |
| Ferritin (ng/mL) | 291.19 ± 213.72 | 329.41 ± 222.08 | 255.53 ± 206.72 | 0.362 |
| Increased serum Iron store | 14 (43.75%) | 8 (50.00%) | 6 (37.50%) | 0.476 |
| Positive hepatic Iron stain | 4 (12.50%) | 1 (6.25%) | 3 (18.75%) | 0.600 |
| Viral genotype (1:2) | 22 : 6 | 12 : 2 | 10 : 4 | 0.648 |
| Viral load | ||||
| (× 106 copies/mL) | 4.94 ± 6.26 | 6.39 ± 8.16 | 3.48 ± 3.22 | 0.231 |
CHC: Chronic hepatitis C; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; TIBC: Total iron binding capacity. Data are expressed as mean ± SD or patients number (percentage). Transferrin saturation was calculated as serum iron divided by TIBC × 100%. The increased serum iron store was defined by transferrin saturation > 50% and/or ferritin > upper normal limit.