Review for 10.1186/s12876-022-02588-0 (2022)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
No association of serum ferritin levels with advanced liver fibrosis in
untreated German patients with autoimmune hepatitis
Version: 
1 
Date: 
30 Aug 2022
Reviewer's report:
As a result of the revision, this letter has much better improved in the aspect of
methodology and result findings than before.
However, due to the word limitations of the letter, it is questionable whether this
letter alone is sufficient to refute the study findings of Chen et al.
Of course, I'm fully sympathetic with the authors' question about whether serum
ferritin 
level with an Odd ratio very close to 1 is a good predictor of liver fibrosis
in autoimmune hepatitis patients.
In my opinion, the most appropriate method is to examine whether ferritin is
related to liver fibrosis through multiple logistic regression as previously
suggested by reviewer 1 (another reviewer).
It seems that the authors also performed logistic regression, but the methodology
is not clear. 
It would be better to describe statistical analysis 
more clearly (in
more detail) and organize a table for odds ratios (results of multiple logistic
regression).
(I understand that it is because of the word limitation.)
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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from apparent manipulation?
Yes