AFP and hepatocellular carcinoma: As antiviral therapy was negatively associated and HBeAg and AST > 1× ULN were positively associated with elevated AFP in patients with both non-HCC and early-stage HCC, we then analyzed the AUCs of AFP in discriminating early-stage HCC with patients divided by antiviral therapy, HBeAg, HBV DNA, ALT, and AST.