Regarding the grade of fibrosis in CHC patients, although liver biopsies were only available in four CHC patients with ongoing treatment during vaccination (METAVIR score A1F2, A1F1, A2F3 and A1F1) and two CHC patients not receiving treatment (METAVIR score A2F4, in both), the rest of the patients did not have biochemical (low albumin or prothrombin time, and high bilirubin) or ultrasonographic (liver surface nodularity, parenchymal nodularity, or atrophy of the right lobe) signs of cirrhosis. This evidence concerns the gene ALB and cryohydrocytosis.