Clin Mol Hepatol Volume_18 Number_3 September 2012 were performed by commercially available software (PASW ver. 18.0 for Windows, Chicago, USA). RESULTS Baseline characteristics Demographic data of patient at the time of RFA are shown in Table 1. A total of 102 patients (44 male and 11 female) were in- cluded in present study. The median age was 59 years old (ranging from 40 to 88). The majority of patients had either chronic hepa- titis B or hepatitis C for underlying disease. The size of the tumor was 2.5±0.1 cm (1.0-5.6 cm) in diameter. Seventy six patients (74.5%) had solitary HCC whereas 2 patients (2.0%) had 4 nod- ules in liver. Serum level of AFP was 186.9±69.8 ng/mL (0.9-7025 ng/mL). Ablation was performed in single cycle in 32 patients (31.4%) and multiple overlapping ablations were performed in 70 patients (68.6%). Total ablation time was 21.9±1.5 minutes (6-48 minutes). Based on Child-Pugh classification, 66 patients (64.7%) were in Child A and 36 patients (35.3%) in Child B. Ascites was observed in 14 patients (13.7%). Laboratory tests performed before RFA procedure were as follows: pre-RFA platelet count 116.6±5.5×103/mm3 (50-307×103/mm3), pre-RFA PT 13.2±0.2 seconds (10.6-22.2 seconds), pre-RFA albumin 3.7±0.1 g/dL (2.1- 5.1 g/dL), pre-RFA total bilirubin 1.4±0.2 mg/dL (0.4-2.8 mg/dL), and pre-RFA ALT 34.5±3.7 IU/L (6-170 IU/L). Serial changes in liver function after RFA therapy Child-Pugh score was significantly increased from 6.1±0.1 be- fore RFA to 7.0±0.1 in 6 months and 7.2±0.2 in 12 months after RFA (P <0.001). Serum albumin level decreased significantly after RFA therapy from 3.7±0.7 g/dL before RFA to 3.5±0.1 g/dL in 6 months (P =0.002). Serial changes in liver function parameters are showed in Figure 1. There was no significant difference in the level of serum total bilirubin, PT levels and platelet counts after RFA. Risk factors for aggravation of liver function A total of 29 patients (28.4%) showed decrease of Child-Pugh score by 2 or more compared to pre-RFA Child-Pugh score. Among 29 patients with deterioration of liver function, Child-Pugh score decreased by 2 in 13 patients, by 3 in 10 patients and by 4 in 6 patients. The Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that Child-Pugh classification (A vs. B), pre-RFA platelet (≤70,000/ mm3), pre-RFA albumin (≤3.5 g/dL), and pre-RFA bilirubin (≥1.1 mg/dL) as significant factors associated with deterioration of Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the patients at the time of radiofrequency ablation Parameters N=102 Sex (Male/Female) 44/11 Age (yr) 59.3±1.0 (40-88) HBV/HCV/Alcohol/HBV+HCV/NASH/AIH 64/17/13/2/4/2 (62.7%/16.7%/12.7%/2.0%/3.9%/2.0%) Tumor number (1/2/3/4) 76/17/7/2 (74.5%/16.7%/6.9%/2.0%) Ablation cycle (single ablation/multiple overlapping) 32/70 (31.4%/68.6%) Ascites (No/Yes) 88/14 (86.3%/13.7%) Child-Pugh classification (A/B) 66/36 (64.7%/35.3%) Size of tumor (cm) 2.5±0.1 (1.0-5.6) Total ablation time (min) 21.9±1.5 (6-48) pre-RFA platelet (×103/mm3) 116.6±5.5 (50-307) pre-RFA PT (sec) 13.2±0.2 (10.6-22.2) pre-RFA albumin (g/dL) 3.7±0.1 (2.1-5.1) pre-RFA bilirubin (mg/dL) 1.4±0.1 (0.4-2.8) pre-RFA ALT (IU/L) 34.5±3.7 (6-170) pre-RFA AFP (ng/mL) 186.0±69.8 (0.9-7075) pre-RFA Child-Pugh score 6.1±0.1 (5-9) HBV, hepatitis B virus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; NASH, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; AIH, autoimmune hepatitis; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; PT, prothrombin time; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AFP, alpha-fetoprotein. Data were presented as mean±standard error, minimum-maximum: range. 304 http://dx.doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2012.18.3.302 http://www.e-cmh.org