Table 1 Demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters of the study groups; normal, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Age (Mean ± SD)

34.1 ± 9.74

55.04 ± 9.58

58.8 ± 9.66

0.14

Sex

Male: n = 69

8

30

31

Female: n = 51

12

20

19

M:F ratio

01:00.6

01:01.5

01:01.6

0.838

Obesity N(%)

8 (40%)

22 (44%)

20 (40%)

0.685

LFT

Median (Range)

ALT (IU/L)

29 (20-41)

60 (25-210)

64(34-103)

0.09

AST (IU/L)

31 (18-40)

60 (25-180)

120 (65-310)

<0.001

T. Bil (mg/dL)

0.8 (0.4-1)

1 (0.5-3.6)

2.2 (1.2-6)

<0.001

Albumin (g/dL)

3.9 (3.5-4.7)

3.6(1.9-4.2)

3 (1.6-3.4)

<0.001

INR

0.8 (0.7-0.9)

1.1(0.7-1.5)

1.2(1.1-1.5)

<0.001

GGT (IU/L)

29 (12-46)

56.5 (15-105)

190 (60-560)

<0.001

Biochemical tests

Median(range),

Fasting Glu (mg/dL)

99(80-142)

170(100-230)

188(76-890)

0.81

Fasting Ins (IU/mL)

3.6(2-5.3)

8(3.5-13.0)

9(3.6-15)

0.178

HbA1c (% )

4.2(2.7-6)

7(3.2-11.0)

8(4.2-13)

0.053

HOMA-IR

0.87(0.42-1.49)

3.42 (0.86-7.06)

4.18 (0.91-32.22)

0.643

Plt (x10⁹/L)

300(152-465)

150(102-300)

130(50-170)

<0.001

Cholesterol (mg/dL)

157(120-247)

190(160-270)

190(110-300)

0.954

TG (mg/dL)

153(125-254)

190(87-300)

190(120-300)

0.999

Serum AFP (ng/mL)

6 (2.9-10)

30 (5-125)

225 (150-1060)

<0.001

HCV RNA

(viral load copies/IU/L) N(%)

no viremia

Low** (n = 21)

Moderate (n = 56)

19(38)

2(4)

<0.001

High (n = 23)

21(42)

35(70)

Stage of Fibrosis N(%)

10(20)

13(26)

I+II (n = 17)

16 (32)

1(2)

<0.001

III+IV+ V (n = 83)

34 (68)

49(98)