Reviewer's report 
 Human serum fetuin A/alpha2HS-glycoprotein level is associated with long-term survival in patients Title: 
with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Comparison with the Child-Pugh and MELD scores. 
 1  20 February 2007 Version: Date: 
 Edoardo Giovanni Giannini Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
The Authors responded to my comments. The modifications made to the manuscript - in particular the 
identification of an adequate AHSG cut-off - have improved the manuscript. I feel that AHSG needs further 
evaluation, since its prognostic capability seems to be not optimal in patients with cirrhosis of viral aetiology. 
Furthermore, acute (or recent) etahnol intake as well as the presence of infections seem to influence the 
performance of this parameter, and this must be taken in due consideration in clinical practice. These limitations, part of which were emphasised by the Auhotrs in their discussion, are the major limitations to 
the use of AHSG. 
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Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can be 
reached) 
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Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author 
can be trusted to correct) 
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Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept without revision What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research interests Level of interest: 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a statistician. Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
Reviewer's report 
 Human serum fetuin A/alpha2HS-glycoprotein level is associated with long-term survival in patients Title: 
with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Comparison with the Child-Pugh and MELD scores. 
 1  20 February 2007 Version: Date: 
 Edoardo Giovanni Giannini Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
The Authors responded to my comments. The modifications made to the manuscript - in particular the 
identification of an adequate AHSG cut-off - have improved the manuscript. I feel that AHSG needs further 
evaluation, since its prognostic capability seems to be not optimal in patients with cirrhosis of viral aetiology. 
Furthermore, acute (or recent) etahnol intake as well as the presence of infections seem to influence the 
performance of this parameter, and this must be taken in due consideration in clinical practice. These limitations, part of which were emphasised by the Auhotrs in their discussion, are the major limitations to 
the use of AHSG. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can be 
reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author 
can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept without revision What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research interests Level of interest: 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a statistician. Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report 
 Human serum fetuin A/alpha2HS-glycoprotein level is associated with long-term survival in patients Title: 
with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Comparison with the Child-Pugh and MELD scores. 
 1  20 February 2007 Version: Date: 
 Edoardo Giovanni Giannini Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
The Authors responded to my comments. The modifications made to the manuscript - in particular the 
identification of an adequate AHSG cut-off - have improved the manuscript. I feel that AHSG needs further 
evaluation, since its prognostic capability seems to be not optimal in patients with cirrhosis of viral aetiology. 
Furthermore, acute (or recent) etahnol intake as well as the presence of infections seem to influence the 
performance of this parameter, and this must be taken in due consideration in clinical practice. These limitations, part of which were emphasised by the Auhotrs in their discussion, are the major limitations to 
the use of AHSG. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can be 
reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the author 
can be trusted to correct) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept without revision What next?: 
 An article whose findings are important to those with closely related research interests Level of interest: 
 Acceptable Quality of written English: 
 No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a statistician. Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
assistant