Direct-acting antiviral-based triple therapy on alpha-fetoprotein level in chronic hepatitis C patients

Table 1 Baseline demographic characteristics, classified by treatment

Baseline characteristics	Triple therapy (n = 88)	Dual therapy (n = 122)	P value
Age, yr	63 (53-68)	60 (52-65)	0.101
Male	37 (42.1)	52 (42.6)	0.933
Body weight, kg	56 (49-67)	58 (50-66)	0.782
Body mass index, kg/m2	22.7 (20.7-25.1)	22.8 (20.6-24.9)	0.859
Serum AFP level, ng/mL	4.5 (2.8-9.0)	4.0 (2.8-8.9)	0.677
Serum AFP level < 5 ng/mL	50 (56.8)	70 (57.4)	0.967
Serum AFP level 5-9.9 ng/mL	18 (20.5)	26 (21.3)
Serum AFP level ≥ 10 ng/mL	20 (20.7)	26 (21.3)
HCV RNA level, log10 IU/mL	6.5 (6.1-6.9)	6.3 (5.8-6.6)	0.010
HCV genotype 1a	1 (1.1)	3 (2.5)	0.476
HCV genotype 1b	87 (98.9)	119 (97.5)
Serum albumin, g/L	41 (38-43)	41 (39-43)	0.376
Alanine aminotransferase, U/L	46 (25-73)	51 (33-81)	0.176
Alanine aminotransferase ≥ 40 IU/L	49 (55.7)	78 (63.9)	0.228
γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase, U/L	39 (23-76)	37 (21-63)	0.199
Estimated glomerular filtration rate, mL/min per 1.73 m2	80 (68-94)	81 (71-94)	0.464
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	175 (153-192)	164 (146-192)	0.216
Triglycerides, mg/dL	94 (68-124)	79 (57-121)	0.070
Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index	0.86 (0.51-1.85)	0.76 (0.50-1.40)	0.306
White blood cell count, × 106/L	4780 (4038-5890)	4600 (3890-5645)	0.447
Hemoglobin level, g/L	137 (129-144)	135 (126-145)	0.319
Platelet count, × 109/L	156 (122-195)	178 (136-209)	0.040
Diabetes	10 (11.3)	7 (5.7)	0.144
Stage of fibrosis
F0-2	52 (81.2)	76 (90.5)	0.105
F3-4	12 (18.8)	8 (9.5)
Not determined, n	24	38
Previous treatment response
Naïve	25 (28.4)
Prior relapse	34 (38.6)
Prior NVR	27 (30.7)
Prior unknown response	2 (2.3)
IL28B SNP (rs8099917)
TT	49 (55.7)	73 (70.2)	0.113
TG/GG	39 (44.3)	31 (29.8)
Not determined, n	0	18

Data are presented at n (%) or as median (first- third quartiles) unless otherwise indicated. AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; Dual therapy: Pegylated-interferon-α and ribavirin; HCV: Hepatitis C virus; IL28B: Interleukin 28B; NVR: Non-virological response; SNP: Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Triple therapy: Telaprevir-based therapy combined with pegylated-interferon-α and ribavirin.