TGFA and cryohydrocytosis: In order to gain a better understanding of cytokine and growth factor dynamics in the course of CHC, we measured the levels of 12 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-2, IL-22, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9 and TNF-α) and 13 growth factors (Ang-2, EGF, EPO, FGF-basic, G-CSF, GM-CSF, HGF, M-CSF, PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, SCF, TGF-α and VEGF) in sera taken at four different time points (before treatment, after four and eight weeks of DAA therapy and 12 weeks after treatment, e.g., SVR12).