Table 2 Comparison between baseline (week 0) and Δ change in laboratory investigations from baseline at weeks 4, 8, and 12 as regards blood counts and liver function tests

WBC (10³/ml)

 Mean ± SD

6.648 ± 2.947

6.759 ± 2.741

6.695 ± 3.641

6.530 ± 2.371

 Range

(2.7– 20.7)

(3.5–16.2)

(3.2–27.43)

(3.5–14.2)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

0.111 ± 2.917

0.047 ± 4.189

 − 0.118 ± 2.958

  P-value

0.789

0.938

0.780

HGB (g/dl)

 Mean ± SD

12.050 ± 1.835

10.282 ± 1.962

9.278 ± 1.747

8.959 ± 1.728

 Range

(10–16.2)

(7–13.9)

(6.4–13)

(4.2–12.4)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

 − 1.768 ± 2.168

 − 2.772 ± 2.309

 − 3.091 ± 2.248

  P-value

 < 0.001*

 < 0.001*

 < 0.001*

PLT (10³/ml)

 Mean ± SD

208.820 ± 62.666

216.860 ± 84.864

224.300 ± 65.347

229.380 ± 84.586

 Range

(108–372)

(92–589)

(105–437)

(114–570)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

8.040 ± 88.070

15.480 ± 63.499

20.560 ± 86.368

  P-value

0.522

0.091

0.099

Total bilirubin (mg/dl)

 Mean ± SD

0.543 ± 0.171

0.770 ± 0.404

0.635 ± 0.257

0.664 ± 0.315

 Range

(0.19–1)

(0.3–2.5)

(0.1–1.5)

(0.11.9)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

0.227 ± 0.443

0.092 ± 0.278

0.121 ± 0.328

  P-value

0.001*

0.023*

0.012*

Direct bilirubin (mg/dl)

 Mean ± SD

0.351 ± 0.353

0.270 ± 0.206

0.245 ± 0.190

0.238 ± 0.169

 Range

(0–1.3)

(0–0.98)

(0–0.98)

(0.03–0.8)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

 − 0.081 ± 0.404

 − 0.106 ± 0.379

 − 0.113 ± 0.392

  P-value

0.164

0.054

0.048*

Serum albumin (g/dl)

 Mean ± SD

3.866 ± 0.560

4.018 ± 0.555

3.860 ± 0.589

3.864 ± 0.448

 Range

(2–5.1)

(2.7–5.3)

(2–5.4)

(2.8–4.8)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

0.152 ± 0.770

 − 0.006 ± 0.669

 − 0.002 ± 0.563

  P-value

0.169

0.950

0.980

INR

 Mean ± SD

1.112 ± 0.114

1.083 ± 0.146

1.092 ± 0.113

1.069 ± 0.102

 Range

(0.88–1.4)

(0.9–1.87)

(0.77–1.31)

(0.88–1.36)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

 − 0.029 ± 0.172

 − 0.020 ± 0.145

 − 0.043 ± 0.136

  P-value

0.240

0.338

0.030*

AST (IU/l)

 Mean ± SD

35.634 ± 33.177

27.440 ± 17.126

26.280 ± 12.876

29.350 ± 16.783

 Range

(2–222)

(6–84)

(8–52)

(6–94)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

 − 8.194 ± 31.806

 − 9.354 ± 32.381

 − 6.284 ± 31.124

  P-value

0.075

0.046*

0.160

ALT (IU/l)

 Mean ± SD

34.736 ± 20.096

19.060 ± 13.549

14.390 ± 5.830

17.422 ± 10.136

 Range

(9–94)

(4–64)

(4–30)

(5–64)

 Δ change

  Mean ± SD

 − 15.676 ± 19.446

 − 20.346 ± 19.962

 − 17.314 ± 19.893

  P-value

 < 0.001*

 < 0.001*

 < 0.001*