Before PSM, sex, age, BMI, prevalence of diabetes, whether they smoked or not, ECOG-PS scores, HBsAg status, ALBI grading, FIB-4, AFP, PIVKA-II, and tumor numbers, main portal vein invasion or not, hepatic vein invasion or not, extrahepatic metastasis or not, and largest tumor size were not statistically different (all P > 0.05), whereas significant differences in Child-Pugh classification, and whether or not they were combined with ascites were found between the two groups (P < 0.05). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is Ascites.