Table 6.

Sensitivity and specificity of AFP versus plasma metabolites in predicting HCC cases among cirrhotic patients

	AUC	P	95% CI	Cut-off	Sensitivity	Specificity	PPV	NPV
AFP	0.867*	0.002*	0.725-1.009	> 95	72.73	84.62	80.0	78.6
Octanoic (caprylic) acid	0.937*	< 0.001*	0.847-1.028	> 5.003	81.82	92.31	90.0	85.7
Oxalic acid	0.762*	0.030*	0.552-0.973	> 3.142	63.64	100.0	100.0	76.5
Decanoic (capric) acid	0.846*	0.004*	0.691-1.001	> 0.512	72.73	84.62	80.0	78.6
Oleic acid	1.000*	< 0.001*	1.000-1.000	> 2.087	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Glycine	0.951*	< 0.001*	0.871-1.031	> 53.57	81.82	100.0	100.0	86.7

AUC – area under curve, p – value: probability value, CI – confidence interval, NPV – negative predictive value, PPV – positive predictive value, AFP – alpha-fetoprotein

^*statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05