TNF and Ascites: Serum TNF- α was highly correlated with hemoglobin (r = -0.299, P < 0.01) and the presence of ascites (r = 0.288, P < 0.01), TGF- b and IL-8 with bilirubin (r = 0.232, P < 0.05 and r = 0.241, P < 0.05), while VEGF correlated highly with hepatic steatosis (r = -0.271, P < 0.01), platelets (r = 0.382, P < 0.001) and AST (r = -0.307, P < 0.001).