Table 1.

Baseline characteristics.

Variables	N=338
Age (years)	52 (18-82)
Gender, male / female	215 / 123
AST (IU/l)	46 (7-1395)
ALT (IU/l)	58 (7-1450)
Serum albumin (g/dl)	4.1 (2.0-5.1)
Total bilirubin (mg/dl)	0.8 (0.2-11.1)
Platelet count (×104/mm3)	17.15 (1.6-41.7)
Pretreatment alfa-fetoprotein (ng/ml)	5.5 (0.9-1039.5)
Presence of liver cirrhosis, yes / no	91 / 247
HBV-DNA (Log copies/ml)	6.6 (2.1-9.0)
HBe antigen positivity, yes / no	163 / 175

Data are expressed as number or median value (range). AST; aspartate aminotransferase, ALT; alanine aminotransferase, HBV; hepatitis B virus.