Table 2. Clinical characteristics of IFN−/DAA-FU group, and comparison of cases stratified by early-emerging HCC.
| Variables | Total | Early-emerging HCC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | P | ||
| N | 24 | 19 | 5 | – |
| Age, years | 67.5 [45–79] | 67 [45–79] | 72 [50–79] | 0.39 |
| Sex (M/F), n | 10 /14 | 9/ 10 | 1/ 4 | 0.36 |
| Pre-treatment parameters | ||||
| ALT, IU/L | 58 [26–284] | 59 [27–284] | 57 [26–83] | 0.89 |
| AST, IU/L | 67 [27–246] | 61 [27–246] | 76 [32–92] | 0.72 |
| G-GTP, IU/L | 43 [19–268] | 47 [24–268] | 30 [19–79] | 0.39 |
| T-Bil, mg/dl | 0.9 [0.4–2.7] | 0.8 [0.4–2.7] | 1.2 [0.7–1.8] | 0.24 |
| Albumin, g/dl | 3.9 [3.3–4.8] | 4.0 [3.3–4.8] | 3.9 [3.3–4.1] | 0.23 |
| Platelet, 103/μl | 108 [47–221] | 111 [47–221] | 65 [49–94] | 0.01* |
| 4COL7s, ng/ml | 7.9 [3.9–15] | 7.5 [3.9–15] | 8.1 [7.2–15] | 0.26 |
| AFP, ng/ml | 12 [3–171] | 9 [3–109] | 23 [9–171] | 0.14 |
| HCV-RNA, LogIU/ml | 6.3 [5.8–7.5] | 6.4 [5.9–7.5] | 5.9 [5.8–6.4] | 0.02* |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dl | 148 [107–230] | 152 [107–230] | 127 [120–173] | 0.08 |
| FIB-4 | 4.49 [1.21–25.80] | 4.40 [1.21–25.80] | 12.73 [4.34–16.56] | 0.12 |
| APRI | 1.80[0.35–14.95] | 1.49[0.35–14.95] | 3.52 [0.97–4.43] | 0.10 |
| Previous HCC, n (%) | 5 (21) | 2 (11) | 3 (60) | 0.04* |
| Post-treatment parameters | ||||
| EVR, n (%) | 20 (83) | 16 (84) | 4 (80) | 1.00 |
| SVR, n (%) | 21 (88) | 18 (95) | 3 (60) | 0.10 |
| ALT, IU/L | 21 [11–235] | 17 [11–235] | 29 [21–30] | 0.24 |
| AST, IU/L | 28 [17–102] | 25 [19–102] | 33 [28–46] | 0.07 |
| G-GTP, IU/L | 23 [12–150] | 22 [12–150] | 23 [15–28] | 0.91 |
| T-Bil, mg/dl | 1.0 [0.5–2.0] | 0.9 [0.5–1.4] | 1.1 [1.0–2.0] | 0.05 |
| Albumin, g/dl | 4.3 [3.7–4.9] | 4.4 [3.7–4.9] | 4.2 [4.1–4.5] | 0.24 |
| Platelet, 103/μl | 115 [54–202] | 120 [54–202] | 120 [59–125] | 0.10 |
| 4COL7s, ng/ml | 6.9 [4.3–12] | 6.3 [4.3–12] | 8.1 [7.5–9.2] | 0.08 |
| AFP, ng/ml | 5 [3–591] | 4 [3–9] | 10 [4–591] | 0.04* |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dl | 166 [121–233] | 167 [127–233] | 143 [121–193] | 0.08 |
| FIB-4 | 3.06 [0.99–10.25] | 2.73 [0.99–9.66] | 5.92 [2.27–10.25] | 0.08 |
| APRI | 0.64 [0.24–3.07] | 0.61 [0.30–3.07] | 1.15 [0.69–2.08] | 0.04* |
| ΔNKG2D (NK cells), % | −42 [−80–+21] | −34 [−73–+21] | −57 [−80–−51] | 0.005** |
*, P< 0.05
**, P< 0.01.
Data are shown as median with the range within brackets. Abbreviations: 4COL7s: type 4 collagen 7s domain; AFP: alpha-fetoprotein; EVR: early viral response; F: female; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV: hepatitis C virus; M: male; SVR: sustained viral response.