TABLE 2.

Comparison of serum HBV RNA, HBV DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg levels in patients with and without HBeAg loss after 96 weeks of NUC treatment

Patient parameter	Values		P value
	With HBeAg lossa (n = 17)	Without HBeAg loss (n = 35)
Baseline
Age, yrs (median, range)	27 (21–52)	31 (19–56)	0.97
No. of males/no. of females	14/3	27/8	0.67
ALT level (U/liter)	222 ± 164	227 ± 178	0.92
HBV RNA level (log IU/ml)	5.20 ± 1.70	5.33 ± 1.25	0.88
HBV DNA level (log IU/ml)	7.49 ± 1.51	7.26 ± 1.24	0.26
HBsAg level (log IU/ml)	3.89 ± 0.87	4.11 ± 0.56	0.53
HBeAg level (log PEIU/ml)	2.33 ± 1.62	2.34 ± 1.15	0.36
HBV cccDNA level (log copies/cell)	0.80 ± 0.69	0.60 ± 0.79	0.34
Week 48
HBV RNA level (log IU/ml)	2.03 ± 0.86	2.40 ± 1.30	0.26
HBV DNA level (log IU/ml)	1.83 ± 0.95	2.34 ± 1.21	<0.05
HBsAg level (log IU/ml)	2.89 ± 1.38	3.75 ± 0.49	<0.01
HBeAg level (log PEIU/ml)	−0.75 ± 0.80	0.90 ± 1.25	<0.01
Week 72
HBV RNA level (log IU/ml)	2.04 ± 0.67	2.30 ± 1.18	0.73
HBV DNA level (log IU/ml)	1.78 ± 1.26	2.14 ± 1.04	0.03
HBsAg level (log IU/ml)	2.81 ± 1.45	3.62 ± 0.56	<0.01
HBeAg level (log PEIU/ml)	−0.57 ± 1.11	0.71 ± 1.11	<0.01
Week 96
HBV RNA level (log IU/ml)	2.03 ± 0.61	2.67 ± 1.10	<0.01
HBV DNA level (log IU/ml)	1.55 ± 0.93	2.06 ± 0.97	<0.01
HBsAg level (log IU/ml)	2.75 ± 1.37	3.56 ± 0.51	<0.01
HBeAg level (log PEIU/ml)	−1.22 ± 0.12	0.66 ± 0.94	<0.01

^aA total of 14 of the 17 patients also achieved HBeAg seroconversion.