Diagnostic role of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in HCV cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy with and without schistosomiasis

Egyptian Liver Journal

Table 2 Comparison between the different studied groups according to ammonia and BDNF

	Group 1 (n = 20)	Group 2 (n = 20)	Group 3 (n = 20)	Group 4 (n = 20)	Test of sig	p
Ammonia (mg/dl)
Min. – Max	87.0–153.0	52.0–114.0	60.0–121.0	28.0–67.0	F = 53.036^*	< 0.001^*
Median (IQR)	114.35 ± 17.48	76.85 ± 18.96	84.70 ± 17.13	49.90 ± 10.09	F = 53.036^*	< 0.001^*
p₀	< 0.001^*	< 0.001^*	< 0.001^*
Sig. bet. grps	p₁ < 0.001^, p₂ < 0.001^, p₃ = 0.428
BDNF (pg/ml)
Min. – Max	36.34–252.65	59.09–475.06	101.46–317.47	211.80–408.31	H = 34.254^*	< 0.001^*
Median (IQR)	126.69 (91.63–202.92)	121.87 (102.33–156.74)	175.65 (121.42– 237.38)	261.72 (247.46–282.67)	H = 34.254^*	< 0.001^*
p₀	< 0.001^*	< 0.001^*	< 0.001^*
Sig. bet. grps	p₁ = 0.001^, p₂ = 0.035^, p₃ = 0.698

χ² chi-square test, SD Standard deviation, p₃, p value for comparing between group 2 and group 3; p₂, p value for comparing between group 1 and group 3; p₁, p value for comparing between group 1 and group 2; p₀, p value for comparing between group 4 and each other group; p, p value for comparing between the different studied groups; IQR, interquartile range; H, Kruskal–Wallis test, pairwise comparison bet. each 2 groups was done using post hoc test (Dunn’s for multiple comparisons test); FE Fisher exact, F one-way ANOVA test, pairwise comparison bet. each 2 groups was done using post hoc test (Tukey); BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor
^*Statistically significant at p ≤ 0.05