Quantitation of HBsAg predicts response to entecavir therapy in HBV genotype C patients

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients with hepatitis B virus genotype C

	HBeAg-negative group	HBeAg-positive group	P value
No.	26	24	NS
Age (yr)	57.2 (35-80)	44.2 (35-71)	< 0.01
Gender, M:F	15:16	16:11	NS
Diseases, CH:LC/HCC	21:5	23:1	NS
ALT (IU/mL)	38 (13-950)	102 (812-602)	< 0.01
Platelet counts (× 104/mL)	18.6 (3.4-4.9)	18.0 (8.4-26.8)	NS
Albumin (mg/dL)	4.3 (3.4-4.9)	4.2 (2.3-5.0)	NS
Serum HBV DNA level	5.1 (3.9-8.8)	7.6 (5.6-8.8)	< 0.01
(log copies/mL)

All data are shown by median (range). HBeAg: Hepatitis B e antigen; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; CH: Chronic hepatitis; LC: Liver cirrhosis; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; NS: Not significant.