Factors contributing to the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) response to interferon therapy
| Variable | p Value | Odds ratio | 95% CI |
| (A) Univariate analysis | |||
| Mutation numbers in the ARE | 0.0003 | 37.4 | 6.3–333 |
| Mutation numbers in the ISDR | 0.078 | 59.7 | 1.02–9300 |
| Pretreatment serum HCV-RNA (Meq/ml) | 0.128 | 0.22 | 0.04–1.53 |
| Age | 0.177 | 0.23 | 0.02–1.86 |
| F factor | 0.250 | 0.47 | 0.12–1.73 |
| Pretreatment serum ALT value(IU/l) | 0.492 | 0.48 | 0.06–4.23 |
| (B) Multivariate analysis | |||
| Mutation numbers in the ARE | 0.0007 | 31.0 | 5.03–286 |
| Mutation numbers in the ISDR | 0.378 | 5.30 | 0.23–471 |
| Pretreatment serum HCV-RNA (Meq/ml) | 0.191 | 0.17 | 0.01–2.26 |
| Age | 0.195 | 0.25 | 0.03–2.00 |
ISDR, interferon sensitivity determining region; ARE, ALT response related element; HCV, hepatitis C virus; CI, confidence inerval.