Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine vs dexamethasone in preventing postembolization syndrome post-transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma: A randomized controlled trial

Table 3 The dynamic change of albumin-bilirubin score between the N-acetylcysteine and dexamethasone group

Endpoints	NAC group (n = 28)	DEXA group (n = 28)	Mean ALBI change (NAC group)2	P value	Mean ALBI change (DEXA group)2	P value	Difference of mean ALBI change between the two group3	P value
ALBI	0.18 (-0.07 to 0.42), P = 0.1581
Day 0	-2.2 ± 0.6	-2.4 ± 0.4	Reference		Reference		Reference
Day 2	-1.6 ± 0.5	-1.9 ± 0.3	0.60 (0.48 – 0.72)	< 0.001	0.55 (0.43 – 0.67)	< 0.001	0.05 (-0.12 – 0.22)	0.568
Day 28	-2.1 ± 0.6	-2.1 ± 0.6	0.11 (-0.04 – 0.27)	0.140	0.27 (0.11 – 0.42)	< 0.001	-0.15 (-0.36 – 0.06)	0.167

¹Multilevel linear regression with random intercept and effect was used to compare mean difference of post-conventional transarterial chemoembolization albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) at baseline (day 0).

²Calculated mean ALBI change from baseline at day 2 and day 28 within each group.

³Calculated mean difference of ALBI change between the groups.

ALBI: Albumin-bilirubin; DEXA: Dexamethasone; NAC: N-acetylcysteine.