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).
c
P < 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.