ALPK2 rs3809973 was evaluated further in relation to hepatic fibrosis among the four viral serogroups because it was the only variant sufficiently frequent (n>100) to result in all three genotypic groups (i.e., major allele homozygotes, heterozygotes, minor allele homozygotes), and the ALPK2 variant was not sensitive to adjustable factors on the linear regression model. The gene discussed is ALPK2; the disease is Hepatic fibrosis.