Patients in the ablation group were older (median age 52 vs. 53 years, p = .046), had higher rates of hepatitis C virus infection (0.7% vs. 4.1%, p < .001), elevated bilirubin levels (12.90 vs. 14.05, p < .001) and AST levels (31 vs. 34, p = .01), and lower leukocyte counts (5.7 vs. 5.1, p < .001), platelet counts (161 vs. 133, p < .001), and albumin levels(41.3 vs. 40.3, p = .02). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and hepatitis C virus infection.