NLRP3 and Hepatic fibrosis: A significant increase in the mean relative gene expression levels of both IL-1β and NLRP3 found in patients with early fibrosis (F0-F1-2); 31.97 ± 11.8 and 6.76 ± 2.18, respectively; compared with patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis stages (F2-F3); 2.62 ± 3.71 and 4.27 ± 2.99 (p < 0.001 each).