Table 1. Baseline characteristics.
| Overall (n=35) | HBeAg seroconverters (n=10) | HBeAg non-seroconverters (n=25) | P* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male sex [n (%)] | 29 (82.9) | 9 (90.0) | 20 (80.0) | 0.65a |
| Age [Median (IQR)] | 34 (28, 48) | 39 (32, 53) | 33 (28, 46) | 0.14 |
| Route of transmission [n (%)] | 0.12a | |||
| MSM | 8 (22.9) | 0 (0.0) | 8 (32.0) | |
| Heterosexual | 20 (57.1) | 7 (70.0) | 13 (52.0) | |
| Others/unknown | 7 (20.0) | 3 (30.0) | 4 (16.0) | |
| TDF+3TC useb [n (%)] | 21 (60.0) | 9 (90.0) | 12 (48.0) | 0.028a |
| ALT, IU/l [Median (IQR)] | 37 (30, 49) | 49 (33, 103) | 36 (24, 46) | 0.027 |
| ALT>40 IU/l [n (%)] | 15 (42.9) | 7 (70.0) | 8 (32.0) | 0.062a |
| CD4+ T-cell count, cells/μL [Median (IQR)] | 190 (121, 278) | 196 (136, 357) | 188 (96, 276) | 0.36 |
| HIV RNA, log copies/ml [Median (IQR)] | 4.69 (4.39, 5.32) | 5.22 (4.52, 5.87) | 4.58 (4.24, 4.87) | 0.030 |
| HBV DNA, log IU/ml [Median (IQR)] | 8.04 (7.14, 8.04) | 7.82 (6.97, 8.04) | 8.04 (7.33, 8.04) | 0.26 |
| HBV DNA≥8 log IU/ml [n (%)] | 20 (57.1) | 4 (40.0) | 16 (64.0) | 0.27 |
| qHBsAg, log IU/ml [Median (IQR)] | 4.64 (3.94, 4.89) | 3.97 (3.78, 4.05) | 4.76 (4.44, 4.90) | 0.011 |
| qHBeAg, log PEIU/ml [Median (IQR)] | 2.98 (1.66, 3.09) | 1.61 (0.19, 2.73) | 3.01 (2.80, 3.13) | 0.004 |
| HBV genotype [n, (%)] | 0.88a | |||
| B | 13 (37.1) | 10 (40.0) | 3 (30.0) | |
| C | 17 (48.6) | 11 (44.0) | 6 (60.0) | |
| Unknown | 5 (14.3) | 4 (16.0) | 1 (10.0) | |
| IL-18 levels, log pg/ml [Median (IQR)] | 2.55 (2.24, 2.79) | 2.70 (2.45, 3.05) | 2.53 (2.18, 2.75) | 0.068 |
IQR, interquartile range; MSM, men who have sex with men; TDF, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; 3TC, lamivudine; ALT, alanine transaminase; IU, international unit; qHBsAg, quantification of hepatitis B surface antigen; qHBeAg, quantification of hepatitis B e antigen; PEIU, Paul Ehrlich Institute unit; IL-18, interleukin-18.
*
comparison is between seroconverters and non-seroconverters.
a
Fisher's exact test.
b
the remaining patients received 3TC-based treatment.