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

Table 4 Comparison of treatment outcomes between patients with high and low baseline interleukin-38 levels

Parameters	Week 24			Week 52
	HG (n = 27)	LG (n = 19)	P value	HG (n = 27)	LG (n = 19)	P value
HBV DNA ≤ 60 IU/mL	13 (48.1)	3 (15.8)	0.023	18 (66.7)	7 (36.8)	0.044
HBeAg seroconversion	4 (14.8)	2 (10.5)	0.516	8 (29.6)	4 (21.1)	0.382
ALT normalization	25 (92.6)	15 (78.9)	0.182	21 (77.8)	12 (63.2)	0.225
HBsAg loss	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	NA	1 (3.7)	1 (5.3)	0.661

Normal values: ALT ≤ 50 IU/L; AST ≤ 40 IU/L; HBV DNA ≤ 1.78 log10 IU/mL (60 IU/mL). The undetectable HBV DNA loads were recorded as those ≤ 60 IU/mL. HG: High IL-38 level group, basement serum IL-38 ≥ 250 pg/mL; LG: Low IL-38 level, basement 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; HBeAg: Hepatitis B e antigen; NA: Not applicable.