Mean plasma levels of sFGL2 in patients with chronic HCV infection. Ten (10) mL of heparinized blood was collected from 80 patients with chronic HCV infection, who had not received anti-viral therapy. Mean plasma levels of sFGL2 in these patients were compared to 30 healthy controls, 24 patients with inactive alcoholic cirrhosis, and 32 patients with chronic HCV who cleared the virus following successful anti-viral therapy (sustained virological responders (SVR)). Mean plasma levels of sFGL2 were significantly higher in patients with chronic HCV infection (84.3 ± 89.1 ng/mL, n = 80) compared to healthy controls (36.41 ± 21.9 ng/mL, n = 30), patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (18.8 ± 17.4 ng/mL, n = 24), or patients with SVR (16.6 ± 19.7 ng/mL, n = 32).