ALB and hepatocellular carcinoma: HCC patients with PVT showed lower levels of serum folate, respect HCC patients without PVT, with an average difference of 1.6 nmol/l p < 0.01 (95% CI − 2.54 to − 0.66), red cell folate 33.6 nmol/l p < 0.001 (95% CI − 43.64 to − 23.55) and albumin 0.29 g/dl p < 0.001 (95% CI − 0.42 to − 0.15); PVT patients displayed higher levels of bilirubin 0.53 mg/dl p < 0.001 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.78), INR 0.91 p < 0.001 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.09), γGT 7.9 IU/l (95% CI 4.14 to 11.65) and homocysteine 4.6 μmol/l p < 0.05 (95% CI 0.32 to 8.87)