Baseline predictors of virological response for chronic hepatitis B patients

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Characteristic	All patients (n = 21)	Responders (n = 10)	Non-responders (n = 11)	P value
Median age, range (yr)	25 (20-39)	25 (20-38)	25 (20-39)	0.749
Gender, male (%)	81	70	91	0.311
HBV genotype (%B, C)	24, 76	10, 90	36, 64	0.311
Median HBV DNA levels, range [log (IU/mL)]	8.2 (7.5-8.7)	7.7 (7.2-8.4)	8.4 (8.1-8.8)	0.090
Median ALT level, range (IU/L)	147 (123-201)	184 (146-247)	124 (112-148)	0.011a
Median AST level, range (IU/L)	65 (51-97)	90 (57-132)	64 (45-73)	0.072
Median TSH levels, range (mIU/L)	2.06 (1.41-3.10)	1.82 (1.14-2.08)	2.55 (1.68-4.11)	0.035c
Median TT3 levels, range (nmol/L)	2.22 (2.04-3.03)	2.85 (2.02-3.85)	2.20 (2.02-2.54)	0.305
Median TT4 levels, range (nmol/L)	111.4 (96.8-140.6)	132.7 (109.0-168.5)	107.8 (88.4-117.3)	0.037e

Data are expressed as the median (IQR) and as percentages. HBV: Hepatitis B virus; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone.

^aP < 0.05 differences of baseline serum ALT level between responders and non-responders;

^cP < 0.05 differences of baseline serum TSH level between responders and non-responders;

^eP < 0.05 differences of baseline serum TT4 level between responders and non-responders.

Table 2 Predictive value of single and combined baseline factors

Parameters	Responders	Non-responders	Predictive value (%)
ALT ≥ 140	9	3	PPV = 75
ALT < 140	1	8	NPV = 89
TSH < 2.4	9	3	PPV = 75
TSH ≥ 2.4	1	8	NPV = 89
TT4 ≥ 120	6	2	PPV = 75
TT4 < 120	3	9	NPV = 75
ALT ≥ 140, TT4 ≥ 120	6	1	PPV = 86
ALT < 140, TT4 < 120	1	7	NPV = 88
ALT ≥ 140, TSH < 2.4	8	1	PPV = 89
ALT < 140, TSH ≥ 2.4	0	6	NPV = 100
TT4 ≥ 120, TSH < 2.4	5	1	PPV = 83
TT4 < 120, TSH ≥ 2.4	0	7	NPV = 100

Data are expressed as numbers of instances. PPV: Positive predictive values; NPV: Negative predictive values.