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

Table 3 Cox proportional hazard model predicting VB by serum b2m levels. Results are presented with b2m being used as a continuous variable (number of months of b2m elevation) or as a dichotomous variable (decline vs elevation of serum b2m levels at 3 mo, as compared to baseline levels). The RR for b2m as a continuous variable reflects risk for VB for each less month of b2m elevation.

	Variable	RR	95%CI
b2m	Continuous	1.25	1.03–1.521
	Decline vs elevation	4.6	1.22–17.361

¹Indicates that the RR does not include 1. CI: confidence interval. RR: rate ratios.