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

Table 3 Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with high and low interleukin-38 levels before treatment

Parameter	High IL-38 levelbefore treatment (n = 27)	Low IL-38 levelbefore treatment (n = 19)
Age (yr)	35 (23-38)	34 (25-40)
Sex (M/F)	22/5	16/3
HBV DNA load (log10 IU/mL)	7.74 (6.89-8.10)	7.69 (7.14-8.36)
ALT level (U/L)	130.00 (71.00-246.50)	108.00 (81.00-147.00)
AST level (U/L)	156.00c (76.00-193.00)	74.00 (49.00-147.00)
HBsAg level (IU/mL)	6641.55 (4437.10-18631.33)	10222.92 (2657.06-24877.19)

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).

^cP < 0.05 vs the group of patients with low serum IL-38 levels before LdT treatment. The undetectable HBV DNA loads were recorded as those ≤ 60 IU/mL. High IL-38 level: Serum IL-38 ≥ 250 pg/mL; Low IL-38 level: Serum IL-38 < 250 pg/mL; IL-38: Interleukin-38; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; ALT: Alanine transferase; AST: Aspartate transferase; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; M: Male; F: Female.