Table 1. Baseline characteristics of all 140 patients.

	All patients (n = 140)	ALT ≤2×ULN (n = 56)	ALT >2×ULN (n = 84)	p value*
Age	32.7 (16.6–60.1)	32.6 (16.6–55.0)	32.5 (18.0–60.1)	0.309
Number of male patients	91 (65.0%)	40 (71.4%)	51 (60.7%)	0.193
Albumin (U/L)	46 (37–54)	47 (39–52)	45 (37–54)	0.152
Bilirubin (umol/L)	10 (3–31)	9.5 (4–31)	10.5 (3–30)	0.088
ALT (U/L)	67.5 (14–175)	38 (14–60)	89 (46–175)	<0.001
HBV DNA (log IU/mL)	7.96 (4.41–12.4)	8.14 (4.83–11.9)	7.72 (4.41–12.4)	0.113
HBsAg (IU/mL)	17,680 (62–319,800)	52,535 (257–319,800)	9,362 (62–217,200)	<0.001

All continuous values expressed in median (range).

ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ULN, upper limit of normal; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen.

ALT upper limit of normal: 30 U/L for men, 19 U/L for women.

^*Comparison was between patients with ALT ≤2×ULN and ALT >2×ULN.