To explore whether the previous findings were specific to ALD, we evaluated the serum OPN levels in 86 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C including 25 patients with mild fibrosis (F1), 34 patients with moderate fibrosis (F2), 19 patients with severe fibrosis (F3) and 8 patients with cirrhosis (F4). This evidence concerns the gene SPP1 and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.