Table 4 Laboratory results at baseline and at the end of treatment in relation to treatment outcome

Hemoglobin (HGB) concentration (gm/dl)

Baseline

13.3 ± 2.3

12.73 ± 1.11

12.17 ± 1.6

11.36 ± 1.32

P = 0.26

End of treatment

12.07 ± 0.31

12.13 ± 0.38

11.2 ± 1.5

P = 0.36

White blood cell count (WBCs) (*10³/μl)

Baseline

3.3 ± 0.36

5.7 ± 2.1^A

4.66 ± 1.6^B

3.26 ± 1.12^AB

P = 0.02

End of treatment

3.67 ± 0.23

5.0 ± 1.8

4.65 ± 1.7

P = 0.58

platelet count (PLTs) (*10³/μl)

Baseline

58 (58–100)

84 (74–111)

94.5 (50–356)

111 (55–142)

P = 0.39

End of treatment

57 (43–138)

105 (100–170)

104 (37–392)

P = 0.32

Serum creatinine (mg/dl)

Baseline

0.6 ± 0.1^A

0.87 ± 0.4

0.85 ± 0.25^B

1.17 ± 0.4^AB

P = 0.003

End of treatment

0.78 ± 0.09

0.85 ± 0.07

0.89 ± 0.37

P = 0.86

ALT/ULN (folds)

Baseline

1.05 (0.78–4.12)

1.03 (0.8–1.24)

1.325 (0.22–5.35)

0.93 (0.48–2.85)

P = 0.13

End of treatment

0.4 (0.4–1.29)

1.0 (0.88–1.05)

0.67 (0.2-2)

P = 0.13

AST/ULN (folds)

Baseline

1.62 (1.03–4.7)

1.85 (1.38–3.41)

1.765 (0.46–5.85)

1.73 (0.4–3.46)

P = 0.9

End of treatment

0.55 (0.48–2.27)

0.86 (0.6–1.43)

0.9 (0.25–7)

P = 0.77

Albumin level (gm/dl)

Baseline

3.0 ± 0.26

2.53 ± 0.25

2.89 ± 0.4

2.8 ± 0.24

P = 0.32

End of treatment

3.5 ± 0.2

3.1 ± 0.14

3.23 ± 0.48

P = 0.87

Serum bilirubin (mg/dl)

Baseline

1.77 ± 0.6

2.3 ± 0.79

1.42 ± 0.7

1.54 ± 1.0

P = 0.23

End of treatment

1.35 ± 0.07

2.13 ± 1.07

1.29 ± 0.7

P = 0.17

I.N.R.

Baseline

1.42 ± 0.28

1.42 ± 0.14

1.32 ± 0.22

1.3 ± 0.18

P = 0.72

End of treatment

1.39 ± 0.15

1.32 ± 0.0

1.38 ± 0.25

P = 0.97

AFP (μg/l)

Baseline

12.0 (6.5–83)

10.2 (9.0–20.7)

12.35 (0.1–201)

7.6 (2.64–25)

P = 0.51

End of treatment

4.8 (4.8–4.8)

8.15 (6.7–9.6)

5.7 (0.2–24)

P = 0.49