Table 1. Groups and baseline characteristics of patients in OJ study. Values presented are n or mean (S.E.M.).
*: P<0.05 (benign compared with malignant); †: P<0.05 (malignant compared with non-jaundiced).
| Benign obstruction | Malignant obstruction | Non-jaundiced controls | Healthy volunteers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of subjects | 20 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| Age (years) | 51 (4) | 64 (2)*,† | 47 (1) | 36 (1) |
| Gender (male:female) | 9:11 | 12:8 | 3:7 | 6:4 |
| Bilirubin (μmol/l) | 151 (16) | 196 (24)* | – | – |
| ALT (IU/l) | 63 (7) | 112 (11)* | – | – |
| ALP (IU/l) | 106 (14) | 164 (17)* | – | – |
| WCC (×109/l) | 12.8 (1.3) | 10.5 (0.9) | – | – |
| CRP (mg/l) | 50 (9) | 62 (10)* | – | – |
| Diagnoses/reasons for endoscopy | Choledocholithiasis: 18 | Pancreatic cancer: 12 | Dyspepsia: 4 | |
| Benign CBD stricture: 1 | Periampullary cancer: 4 | Epigastric pain: 4 | ||
| Benign CBD polyp: 1 | Malignant CBD stricture: 4 | Dysphagia: 2 |