Relationship between serum b2-microglobulin levels and virological breakthrough in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients, under long-term treatment schedules including lamivudine

Table 1 Demographic, biochemical, virological and histological features at baseline, for both groups of CHB patients.

	Group A (n = 25)	Group B (n = 12)	P
Age (yr)	42.8±13.6	40.8±10.4	0.49
ALT (IU/L)	218±106.1	134.6±92.9	0.07
HBV-DNA -log10 (copies/mL)	5.96±0.86	6.27±0.76	0.29
Grade (0–18)	7.0±3.3	5.6±1.8	0.12
Stage (0–6)	3.2±1.5	2.9±1.2	0.54
Cirrhosis (%)	3/25 (12)	2/12 (16.6)	0.71
B2m (mg/dL) (baseline levels)	1695.5±348.1	1787.1±367.2	0.25
Duration of b2m elevation (mo)	5.3±3.5	5.0±1.47	0.82
B2m elevation in 3 mo (%)	17/25 (68)	12/12 (100)	0.03a

ALT: alanine aminotransferase. B2m: b2-microglobilin.

^aP<0.05 vs other group.