Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study group

Mean age

58.29 +/− 11.9 years

Sex ratio

Males: 105 (45.2%)

Females: 127 (54.7%)

Mean HCV- RNA

1,298,674 +/−  725,624 IU/ml

F2 fibrosis

139 patients (59.9%)

- 48 patients with cryoglobulinemia

- 4 patients with SLE

- 54 patients with CKD stage 2/3 (diabetes mellitus related, arterial hypertension related)

- 28 patients undergoing hemodialysis

- 5 patients after kidney transplantation

F3 fibrosis

74 patients (31.9%)

- 5 patients with cryoglobulinemia

- 1 patient with SLE

- 49 patients with CKD stage 2/3 (diabetes mellitus related, arterial hypertension related)

- 12 patients undergoing hemodialysis

- 7 patients after kidney transplantation

F4 fibrosis

19 patients

- 3 patients with cryoglobulinemia

- 8 patients with CKD stage 2/3 (diabetes mellitus related, arterial hypertension related)

- 8 patients undergoing hemodialysis

Median ALT level

35 U/L (range 15 U/L – 217 U/L)

Median bilirubin level

1.2 mg/dL (range 0.5 mg/dL – 2.8 mg/dL)

Mean hemoglobin level

12.9 +/− 4.2 g/dL