Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) scores for all three biomarkers (i.e. HA, PNIIIP and TIMP-1) exhibited a decreasing trend in the treated groups compared with that in the placebo group at baseline, week 4, week 8 and week 24 (Supplementary Fig. S3, available at Rheumatology online). This evidence concerns the gene TIMP1 and Hepatic fibrosis.