Role of serum interleukin-18 as a prognostic factor in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 3 Comparison of clinical data of patients with HCC according to serum IL-18 levels

Clinical features	IL-18 < 105 pg/mL	IL-18 ≥ 105 pg/mL	P
	(n = 41)	(n = 29)
Age (yr )	54.9 ± 15.3	55.2 ± 11.1	NS
Sex (male:female)	34:7	26:3	NS
Liver function test
Total bilirubin (mg%)	1.4 ± 0.7	3.6 ± 4.9	0.03
Albumin (g/dL)	3.8 ± 0.7	3.3 ± 0.7	0.01
AST (IU/L)	136.8 ± 116.4	170.8 ± 148.3	NS
ALT (IU/L)	66.5 ± 39.2	106.2 ± 119.7	NS
Alkaline phosphatase (IU/L)	436.9 ± 275.2	612.1 ± 348.2	0.04
Prothrombin time (s)	13.9 ± 2.4	14.9 ± 5.8	NS
Okuda staging (1:2:3)	15:25:1	4:21:4	0.03
Venous invasion (+:-)	6:35	11:18	0.02
Extrahepatic metastasis (+:-)	6:35	6:29	NS
AFP (< 400 ng/mL: ≥ 400 ng/mL)	25:16	18:11	NS