Patients in group 1 were significantly older (mean 56.7 vs. 54.5 years) and had a significantly lower proportion of cirrhosis (45.5% vs. 56.6%) HBeAg positivity (24.0% vs. 40.9%), lower HBV DNA (median 2.1 vs. 5.3 log10IU/mL), AST (median 32 vs. 39 IU/mL), ALT (median 30 vs. 38 IU/mL), serum albumin (median 4.3 vs. 4.3 g/dL), and AFP levels (median 13.2 vs. 19.0 ng/mL), and a higher proportion of RFA (32.2% vs. 18.5%), than those in the group 2 (all P<0.05). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is Cirrhosis.