The LS values were compared to clinical and biochemical data. Results: 93 patients were included with the following characteristics: mean age 50 11, male gender (46%), mean BMI 23 2.7, median LS 5.8 kPa (3.2-21.8), diabetes (7%), genotype 1 (61%), METAVIR activity A1 (86%), A2 (10%), steatosis at biopsy 30% (92%), mean glucose 4.9 1, abnormal ALT (78%), abnormal GGT (47%), HOMA (2 1.2). The LS values were associated wtih male gender (median 6.1 in males vs 5.2 in females) (p=0.04), BMI (p=0.03), ALT (p=0.006), GGT (p=0.02) and glucose levels (p=0.04). No association was found between LS and activity stage (p=0.34) or steatosis (p=0.14). In the linear regression, the only factor independently associated with higher LS was gender (p=0.038). In men, higher LS was related to levels of ALT (p=0.005), but not to necro-inflammation grade (p=0.4). In women, LS was not associated with ALT levels, but with BMI (p=0.045) and GGT levels (p=0.035). Conclusion: In patients with mild CHC, liver stiffness values are higher in males. These results suggest that different cut-off for fibrosis stage 1 should be proposed according to gender.