Elevated serum interleukin-38 level at baseline predicts virological response in telbivudine-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of study subjects at baseline

Parameters	Patients with CHB (n = 46)	Healthy controls (n = 43)
Age (yr)	34.5 (23.75-38.25)	34 (22-40)
Sex (M/F)	38/8	34/9
HBV DNA load (log10 IU/mL)	7.71 (6.98-8.10)	NA
ALT level (U/L)	117.35a (74.50-241.48)	14 (6-22)
AST level (U/L)	96.75a (57.25-176.25)	12 (10-30)
HBsAg level (IU/mL)	7821.43 (3337.23-20737.14)	NA
HBsAg, pos/neg	46/0	0/43
HBeAg, pos/neg	46/0	0/43

Data are represented as median and interquartile range (IQR) or real case number. Normal values: ALT ≤ 50 IU/L; AST ≤ 40 IU/L; HBV DNA ≤ 1.78 log₁₀ IU/mL (60 IU/mL).

^aP < 0.05 vs the HCs. The undetectable HBV DNA loads were recorded as those ≤ 60 IU/mL. CHB: Chronic hepatitis B; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; NA: Not applicable; ALT: Alanine transferase; AST: Aspartate transferase; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; HBeAg: Hepatitis B e antigen; pos: Positive; neg: Negative.