The median levels of serum AFP were consistently higher in the non-antiviral than in the antiviral group both in patients with non-HCC (5.58 ng/mL vs. 2.68 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and early-stage HCC (29.2 ng/mL vs. 12.1 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.