Baseline features of patients according to interferon (IFN) treatment
| Treated (n=72) | Untreated (n=72) | p Value | |
| Mean age (y) | 57.9 (7.2) | 58.1 (7.8) | NS |
| Sex (M/F) | 33/39 | 33/39 | NS |
| Child-Pugh class (A/B) | 60/12 | 60/12 | NS |
| ALT (IU/l) | 147 (74.8) | 89 (64) | 0.0001 |
| Platelets (×1000/mm3) | 108.8 (38.4) | 140.3 (74) | 0.003 |
| Albumin (g/dl) | 3.8 (0.4) | 3.8 (0.5) | NS |
| Prothrombin activity (%) | 76.7 (12.8) | 77.2 (13.8) | NS |
| Bilirubin (mg/dl) | 1.0 (0.6) | 1.1 (0.5) | NS |
| Alkaline phosphatase (IU/l) | 264.5 (90.9) | 240.8 (97) | NS |
| γ-Glutamyltransferase (IU/l) | 65 (47.1) | 76.4 (56.2) | NS |
| α-Fetoprotein (n (%)) | |||
| <20 ng/ml | 50 (69) | 60 (83) | 0.05 |
| ⩾20 ng/ml | 22 (31) | 12 (17) | |
| Oesophageal varices (n (%)) | |||
| 0 | 44 (61) | 23 (32) | |
| F1 | 18 (25) | 42 (58) | 0.04 |
| F2/F3 | 10 (14) | 7 (10) | |
| IFN doses (n (%)) | |||
| Low (⩽468 MU) | 18 (25) | — | |
| Medium (469–780 MU) | 30 (42) | — | — |
| High (>780 MU) | 24 (33) | — |
Values are mean (SD) or number (%).
Normal values: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) <40 IU/l, alkaline phosphatase <280 IU/l, γ-glutamyltransferase <50 IU/l.